Kenyan referee Cheruiyot selected to officiate at 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup

1st Assistant Referee Gilbert Cheruiyot indicates an offside during their FKF Premier League match on February 18, 2023 at the Nyayo National Stadium. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

Kenyan referee Gilbert Cheruiyot has proudly earned a coveted spot to officiate at the upcoming 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, set to take place from September 27 to October 19.

Cheruiyot, 41, has built a formidable reputation both locally and globally. His journey in refereeing began in the Kenyan Premier League in 2008, and he obtained his FIFA badge in 2013.

Since then, he has been a regular face at major tournaments and fixtures, including this latest assignment for the U-20 World Cup.

His inclusion is particularly meaningful, coming at a time when he narrowly missed out on officiating at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar due to Kenya’s suspension by FIFA over government interference.

Throughout his career, Cheruiyot has demonstrated resilience and professionalism, officiating in top-tier competitions such as the CAF Champions League, including a notable second-leg match in June 2023. His international credentials also include appearances at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (2019, 2021, 2023), and numerous FIFA World Cup qualifiers spanning 2022 to 2026.

Currently, the country boasts nine FIFA-accredited assistant referees—six men and three women—with officials like Josephine Wanjiku recently involved in overseeing the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Kenya’s officials have consistently performed well in global competitions, exemplified by names such as Peter Waweru, Mary Njoroge, and Stephen Yiembe, who have represented the nation in various FIFA and CAF tournaments.

Cheruiyot’s selection for the Chilean tournament affirms Kenya’s reputation for technical competence and sets a standard for aspiring referees in the country. Although Kenya’s U-20 national team was unable to advance past the group stage at the AFCON U-20 Championship in Egypt earlier this year, the nation's presence on the world stage endures through officials like Cheruiyot.