dutch referee duo makkelie and steegstra bound for historic eighth world cup appearance
Amsterdam, donderdag, 9 april 2026.
danny makkelie is heading to his third consecutive world cup, making him one of the few referees to reach such a milestone. at the 2026 tournament across the united states, canada, and mexico, he returns as lead referee after previously serving as a video official in 2018 and taking charge of matches in qatar in 2022. he’ll be joined again by assistant hessel steegstra and jan de vries, forming a trusted team. this marks the eighth time ever that a dutch referee leads at football’s highest stage. only a handful of nations consistently place their officials at these levels, underlining holland’s enduring role behind the scenes of global football.
makkelie achieves rare third consecutive world cup appointment
Danny Makkelie is attending his third straight World Cup, a significant achievement in international refereeing. He previously served as a video assistant referee (VAR) at the 2018 tournament in Russia [1]. In 2022, he led matches at the Qatar World Cup, including Spain vs Germany and Poland vs Argentina [2]. For the 2026 event in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Makkelie returns as a central referee [3]. This makes him one of very few officials globally to achieve three consecutive appointments [1][2][3].
return of the established officiating team
Makkelie will work alongside assistant referees Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries, continuing their established partnership [3]. Both Steegstra and de Vries were also members of Makkelie’s officiating team during the 2022 World Cup [1]. Their familiarity enhances coordination on the field [4]. Video support comes from fellow Dutch officials Rob Dieperink and Dennis Higler [1]. This core group reflects FIFA’s preference for cohesive units at major tournaments [2][3].
the netherlands’ enduring legacy in world cup officiating
The 2026 tournament marks the eighth time a Dutch referee has participated in a men’s World Cup finals [1]. Makkelie follows predecessors like Charles Corver, who officiated in 1978 and 1982, and Björn Kuipers, present in 2014 and 2018 [1]. This consistent representation highlights the strength of the Dutch refereeing system [5]. Manager Raymond van Meenen stated the selection is exceptional due to intense international competition [1]. It serves as a strong motivator for younger Dutch officials [3].