Elvis Noupoue will be the only Cameroonian on the field at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The assistant referee was selected by FIFA among 170 officials from 50 different countries to officiate at this major global football event.
Noupoue, who will be making his second consecutive World Cup appearance after the 2022 edition in Qatar, is considered one of the best assistant referees on the African continent. His selection is seen as a source of national pride for Cameroon, which failed to qualify for this edition expanded to 48 teams.
"It is no longer just an individual selection, it is a national mission," emphasizes Foot Azimuts. Noupoue now carries on his shoulders the credibility of an entire local refereeing body. His rigor and consistency, which allowed him to survive the FIFA "selective sorting", will be his best assets to represent the green-red-yellow flag.
Present in the elite of Cameroonian refereeing since 2013, Elvis Noupoue has risen through the ranks to obtain international referee status. Since 2019, he has regularly participated in major football events, including the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where his performance impressed to the point of being appointed for the final.
In 2024, he received the trophy for the best assistant referee in Africa at the CAF Awards, an award that recognizes his hard work and consistency. Versatile, Noupoue is also involved in the VAR system, which demonstrates his skills and ability to adapt to new technologies.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 and will see the participation of 48 nations for the first time in its history. For this expanded edition, Africa will have 10 representatives. The presence of Elvis Noupoue among the selected referees is a strong signal: Cameroon continues to export excellence, even in refereeing.
