Christina Unkel: the former FIFA referee bringing VAR expertise to ITV's World Cup 2026 coverage

Christina Unkel, the American former FIFA referee and rules analyst, is part of ITV’s expert team for World Cup 2026, offering viewers in the United Kingdom specialist insight into officiating decisions and the tournament’s new law changes.

Unkel, 39, made her debut for the UK broadcaster during Euro 2024, where she quickly drew praise for her clear explanations of VAR decisions. Most recently, she provided analysis on Lucas Digne’s foul on Lamine Yamal — which resulted in a penalty converted by Mikel Oyarzabal to give Spain a 1-0 lead over France in the semi-finals.

American audiences will already know Unkel from her regular work with CBS and Fox Sports, where she has covered the sport for several years. A former collegiate soccer player in the United States, she began officiating at the age of 10 and went on to become a qualified FIFA referee. Away from the pitch, she is also a qualified litigation lawyer and has written as a columnist for The Athletic and CBS Sports on refereeing and legal matters within the game.

In July 2024, Unkel added another role to her portfolio when she was appointed president of the newly-formed Tampa Bay Sun FC.

At World Cup 2026, Unkel has been on hand to explain five law changes introduced for the tournament, all primarily aimed at speeding up play and reducing time-wasting — a response to the extraordinary levels of stoppage time seen at the 2022 edition. Among the changes are a throw-in countdown, a goal-kick countdown, time-limited substitutions, and a rule requiring players treated by a physio to remain off the field for 60 seconds.

The VAR protocols have also been updated, giving video assistant referees new powers to intervene when fouls are committed immediately before the ball is played at set-pieces. Additionally, any player who covers their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may now be sanctioned with a red card — a rule introduced in the wake of controversy involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match in February.

Unkel’s appointment reflects a broader trend in football broadcasting. The introduction of VAR has created growing demand for former officials who can decode on-screen decisions in real time, with ex-Premier League referees Peter Walton and Mike Dean having established themselves in similar roles in recent years.