A total of 650 referees from 34 nations are participating in the Gothia Cup 2026, with 115 of them joining through Referee Abroad – an international non-profit organisation that helps football referees gain experience by travelling abroad and officiating at international tournaments.

One of these referees is 16-year-old Canadian Landon Bell. This is his first time at the Gothia Cup, and the experience has been a positive one from the very beginning.

– I love this place so far. There are lots of great facilities, great teams, great referees, and I have met a lot of nice people, he says.

Officiating matches in a different football environment also brings new challenges. Bell explains that the pace of the game differs compared to what he is used to back home in Canada.

– In Canada, the game is nowhere near as fast as it is here. Everyone here is really skilled compared to what I’m used to in Canada, but I’m adapting.

Besides developing as a referee, the journey has given him the opportunity to meet new people and experience a different football culture.

– I’m really enjoying it here and I will definitely come back next year if I get the opportunity, says Landon Bell.