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Chinese Referee Ning Ma Officiates Ecuador-Curacao, Messi Plushes Surge

6/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ning Ma will become the second Chinese central referee at a FIFA World Cup.
He has been FIFA-approved since 2011 and served as an assistant referee at the 2022 World Cup.
Ma is assigned to officiate the Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao on Saturday.
Over 44 million Chinese watched the opening match, prompting All Star Partner to report rapid sales of Messi plushies and other soccer merchandise.

History

Historical Context

The 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, was the first tournament in Asia and the first jointly-hosted edition, featuring 32 teams and 64 matches. China’s debut—its lowest-ranked qualifier at 50th—signaled growing Asian participation, a trend reflected today as Ning Ma, a FIFA-approved Chinese referee since 2011, oversees the Group E match between Ecuador and Curaçao.

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Story summary

Ning Ma will become the second Chinese central referee at a FIFA World Cup.
He has been FIFA-approved since 2011 and served as an assistant referee at the 2022 World Cup.
Ma is assigned to officiate the Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao on Saturday.
Over 44 million Chinese watched the opening match, prompting All Star Partner to report rapid sales of Messi plushies and other soccer merchandise.

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