Zimbabwe’s referees are still off the big-stage lists — but World Cup qualifiers offer a route back

Zimbabwean match officials have again been left out of the elite tournaments that shape refereeing reputations, after missing both the 2022 FIFA World Cup and AFCON 2023 selections. Yet recent appointments in 2026 World Cup qualifying hint at a pathway to rebuild credibility and climb back into CAF and FIFA’s top tiers.