Kenyan referee named by FIFA to officiate at Club World Cup in the USA
Yiembe is the only East African on the roster, cementing his place amongst the best officials in the world.
Kenya will be represented during this summer's FIFA Club World Cup following the appointment of a match official from the country to officiate at matches.
In the list released by FIFA Tuesday, Stephen Yiembe, a linesman by trade will be one of the 117 match officials from 41 countries that are expected to be in charge at the inaugural edition of the 32 club Club showpiece event, which will take place June 13 to July 14 this year.
The list has 35 centre referees, 58 linesmen, and the remaining are Video Assistant Referees.
Yiembe is the only East African on the roster, cementing his place amongst the best officials in the world.
He has also previously participated in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the Paris Olympics in 2024.
FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina said that it would be a "privilege" for those chosen to officiate at the very first edition of the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup.
"As every new competition starts, the selected referees are among those who have the privilege to be part of this for the first time, so I'm sure that all the match officials will be thrilled," he said.
FIFA also announced that it will implement new rules designed to cut down on time-wasting by goalkeepers at the Club World Cup.
If a goalkeeper holds the ball for longer than eight seconds, the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team.
In addition, referees will be equipped with body cameras on a trial basis at the FIFA Club World Cup, with live footage from these cameras being made available to fans across the world via the tournament's exclusive global broadcaster.
"We are coming from high-standard performances delivered during the last FIFA tournaments. So, the bar is higher, and when you set the bar higher, it's more difficult to keep the standard. But we are working very hard, and 'Team One' will make a solid contribution to the success of this exciting competition," Colina stated.
In a different development, three officials, including Yiembe have been chosen to officiate in the CAF Champions League semi final between Egypt's Al Ahly and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns which takes place this weekend, on Saturday 19 April 2025.
Fourth official Peter Kamaku will join Yiembe and Gilbert Cheruiyot, who will also assist the centre referee.