File photo: Ning Ma has been a FIFA-approved international referee since 2011.  | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Ecuador and Curacao will look to get their first points on the board when they face off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E game on Saturday.

Ecuador suffered a late loss against the Ivory Coast in its previous game, with Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scoring a 90th-minute winner.

Curacao, meanwhile, was handed a thrashing in its previous game, losing 1-7 against European heavyweight Germany.

Who is the referee for Ecuador vs Curacao FIFA World Cup 2026 match?

The referee for Ecuador vs Curacao FIFA World Cup 2026 match will be Chinese official Ning Ma.

Ma made his debut in the Chinese Super League in 2010 and has been a regular official in the league since then. He has been a FIFA-approved international referee since 2011. This will be Ma’s first-ever FIFA World Cup match as a central referee, after being an assistant referee in the 2022 World Cup. This game will also make Ma only the second-ever Chinese referee to take central refereeing duties at the FIFA World Cup.

Throughout his career, Ma has taken charge of 374 games, awarding 1,597 yellow cards (average 4.27 per match) and 103 red cards (average 0.27 per match).

Notably, Ma has taken charge of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final and the AFC Champions League 2021/22 final. Further, he is also a university lecturer, teaching courses on physical education, sports science, and referee training at the Nanjing Sport Institute.

Full list of referee/match officials for Ecuador vs Curacao

• Referee: Ning Ma
• Assistant Referee 1: Fei Zhou
• Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Almaqaleh
• 4th Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh
• Reserve Assistant Referee: Isaac Trevis

Published on Jun 20, 2026