Home Nations umpires named for London 2026 World Team Finals

Table Tennis England today announced the selection of Home Nations umpires for the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026, naming 15 English officials alongside appointees from Guernsey, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The appointments include experienced Gold Badge and Blue Badge umpires such as Nico Caltabiano and Ben Foote and will see officials deployed across the event’s two competition venues: OVO Arena Wembley and Copper Box Arena.

The roster reflects a balance of senior match officials and developing umpires, with assignments made to cover both main-hall competition and support duties at practice venues. For the officiating community this is significant: the World Team Finals are the centenary edition of the Worlds and will be among the highest-profile domestic events any Home Nations umpire can officiate. The selection process marks recognition of long-term performance and provides a pathway for newer umpires to gain exposure at elite-level tables.

Crucially for grassroots officials, Table Tennis England has opened targeted continuing professional development opportunities during the championships. Level 1 umpires registered with Table Tennis England can attend in-event CPD sessions free of charge. Those sessions will be delivered at scheduled times across both venues and will cover detailed rule explanation, hands-on demonstrations with the OVR scoring touchpad, and guided tours of the practice halls to familiarise officials with live match and warm-up environments.

Beyond classroom-style learning, the in-event CPD is structured to place developing umpires close to elite match operations so you can see how referees and senior umpires manage match pace, line calls and time penalties under tournament pressure. That practical proximity accelerates learning in ways that weekend courses cannot match, and it creates local mentoring opportunities for umpires aiming to move up to Level 2 and national panels.

For clubs and league organisers the appointments and CPD schedule matter because they increase the pool of experienced officials available in the months after the tournament. Umpires who work at Wembley and Copper Box will return to local leagues with improved familiarity with electronic scoring, match management protocols and the interpretation of international rules, reducing reliance on a small group of senior officials.

Expect more detail on session times and venue logistics from Table Tennis England as the event approaches. For Level 1 umpires, plan to register early and block out sessions during the championships to make the most of on-court learning. The centenary Worlds provide a rare blend of top-level competition and practical referee development that can lift standards across Home Nations table tennis.