NAIROBI, Kenya, June 24, 2026 – In a monumental milestone for Kenyan football, prominent FIFA-accredited referee Josephine Wanjiku has been officially selected to take charge of matches at the upcoming 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The global showpiece, which brings together the world’s most elite rising female talents, is scheduled to kick off on October 17, 2026.
Wanjiku’s inclusion marks another massive feather in her cap, cementing her rapidly growing reputation as one of the most reliable and elite match officials in world football.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moved quickly to celebrate the historic appointment, expressing immense pride in Wanjiku’s steady ascent through the international refereeing ranks.
“Congratulations to Josephine Wanjiku on her selection to officiate at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, set to kick off on 17 October 2026. FKF wishes her all the best as she takes her place among the elite match officials in world football,” the federation noted.
Wanjiku’s call-up to the world stage comes on the heels of a highly active and successful calendar.
A recognized trailblazer, she captured national attention in 2021 when she made her highly publicized debut as a centre referee in the men’s Kenyan Premier League.
Since then, she has seamlessly transitioned into continental and global football structures.
She brings an elite resume to the U-17 World Cup, having regularly handled high-stakes assignments, including the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers, intense regional CECAFA tournaments, and high-pressure World Cup qualifying rounds.
Her selection further underscores the progressive growth and increasing confidence that global governing bodies like FIFA and CAF have placed in Kenyan officiating infrastructure.
With the tournament set to commence in mid-October, Wanjiku joins an elite panel of world-class referees, assistant referees, and video match officials carefully selected across diverse global confederations.
The assignment will place her under the intense global spotlight, but it is a stage she is well-prepared for.
Armed with sharp tactical command, physical fitness, and a reputation for decisive, ice-cold judgment, Wanjiku heads to Morocco not just representing herself, but carrying the flag and high standard of Kenyan football officiating on the world stage.
