MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA has released the approved list of licensed Game Officials for the 2025–2027 cycle, highlighting continued stability in international officiating. The list for this cycle reflects consistent engagement and participation from National Federations and a steady presence of female referees.

For the 2025-2027 cycle, a total of 1149 referees and commissioners from 162 National Federations have been approved, mirroring the broad and balanced international representation seen in previous terms. This number is expected to increase with the return of candidates on maternity leave or recovering from injuries.Notably, the proportion of licensed female referees remains in line with the previous cycle, continuing a positive trend toward gender inclusion in elite officiating. Female referee representation now stands at 26% (208 out of a total of 804 licensed referees, an increase from 204 out of a total of 825 in the previous cycle), reaffirming the stability of the progress made in past years and underscoring FIBA's long-term efforts to foster diversity on the court, as emphasized by its strategic priority - Women in Basketball.

"Consistency in the Game Officials Licensing program is a strength," said Carl Jungebrand, FIBA Head of Refereeing. "Seeing strong, sustained participation from National Federations and a stable number of game officials, including the women, speaks to the solid foundation we've built in global officiating development. At the same time, we recognize the need to continue building on this foundation. Our goal is to keep growing the number of female referees, identify and recruit potential candidates, and provide more structured support to National Federations for referee education and development in the years ahead."

This licensed period, valid through September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2027, ensures an experienced pool of game officials for upcoming international competitions, such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026, and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.

The full list of approved officials can be found here.

FIBA