Referee Delai makes World Cup Debut

It was a proud moment for Fiji and the Oceania region when Fijian referee Torika Delai made her FIFA World Cup debut by taking charge of the Group C match between Norway and Ecuador at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Delai’s appointment to the centre of the field marked her first appearance at a FIFA World Cup tournament, and she became the second referee from Fiji to officiate at a FIFA World Cup event.

She follows in the footsteps of pioneering referee Finau Vulivuli, who officiated at multiple global tournaments.

The match saw Delai lead an international team of officials, which included Natalia Lumukana of the Solomon Islands and Allys Clipsham of New Zealand as assistant referees. Veronika Bernatskaia of the Czech Republic served as the fourth official while Suwida Wongkraisorn of Thailand was the reserve assistant referee. 

The diverse all-female line-up reflected FIFA’s continued commitment to inclusion and representation across all confederations.

Fiji Football Association (Fiji (FA) president Rajesh Patel said Delai’s achievement was a proud day for the nation.

“It reflects years of commitment, perseverance, and hard work,” he told Fiji FA Media. 

Patel added that Fiji FA remains committed to developing and supporting match officials across the country. 

Fiji FA referees’ director Avinesh Narayan also paid tribute to Delai’s impressive debut on the world stage. 

“Torika’s performance in the Norway versus Ecuador match was excellent. She showed great composure, confidence, and control throughout the game,” Narayan said. 

“She has set a new standard for our referees and has proven that Fijians can perform with distinction on the global stage. Her success will motivate others to follow in her footsteps.”

Delai is the only referee from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) appointed to the tournament.