A Trinidad and Tobago referee is heading to his second FIFA Men’s World Cup, and his journey to the global stage is one every young footballer and official in this region should hear.
As a boy, Caleb Wales watched a Trinidadian referee on the World Cup stage and dared to dream.
Now, he is that dream, selected by FIFA for a second time to officiate at the 2026 Men’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“It’s something that I can’t predict, but it’s something I was preparing for and hoping for and the day finally came that they called my name once again.”
His inspiration came from two places: Trinidadian referee Ramesh Ramdhan at the 1998 World Cup stage and his father, who taught him the game.
Years of FIFA monitoring, fitness and testing later, that foundation is now carrying him to football’s grandest stage.
“FIFA has been monitoring us. They have been watching our fitness levels, our technical preparation, and they will be always in contact with the referee and the assistant referees in terms of putting out a training plan so we know what to do on a day-to-day basis.”
His message to the next generation hoping to follow in his footsteps?
“The main thing for young referees is to keep working. It’s not an easy journey. You have to keep pushing, and one day somebody will notice your hard work and what you can put out.”
When the final whistle blows in 2026, Caleb Wales says his goal is simple: “I would hope to say that I’ve done my best, and wherever they nominate me, which matches they appoint me to, I will have contributed 110%, knowing that I left it all on the field.”