Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterITV viewers will get used to seeing Christina Unkel over the next six weeks, and hearing her voice as she wades in on big refereeing decisions at World Cup 2026 and applies her expert opinion.She was kept busy during the tournament's opening fixture between hosts Mexico and South Africa, with three red cards brandished by referee Wilton Sampaio.But who is she, and what qualifies her to offer expertise on the big decisions?Christina Unkel has appeared on ITV before - and she's back again this yearUnkel is a former FIFA-licenced referee, a job she held for many years after first picking up a whistle at the age of just ten years old.She then went on to take charge of women's international fixtures across the globe, as well as refereeing in the top United States leagues. You may like World Cup 2026: Every referee at the tournament Who are the ITV commentators, pundits and presenters for South Korea vs Czechia? World Cup 2026: The BBC's presenters, pundits, commentators and reporters in full After retiring from her refereeing career, Unkel now works as a VAR expert, making her broadcast debut during the Women's World Cup in 2019 with Fox.She has also worked as a columnist for The Athletic and CBS Sports, where she has offered her expert opinion on refereeing, the laws of the game and even legal issues.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.She was first heard on UK televisions during Euro 2024, when she was part of ITV's tournament coverage.She is now back on our screens again this summer, taking up the same role for ITV for this year's World Cup.In an interview with the LA Times in 2023, she said that her job isn't to be on the side of referees, but to explain their process and why certain decisions are made.She said: "More often than not I usually can explain why we are correct or how we can get this better. Or why an official missed it."Im educating the rest of the football community as to the decision and how they came to the decision, whether it was right or wrong, how is that they interpreted it.TOPICSWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Ryan GraySocial Links NavigationFreelance WriterRyan Gray is a freelance writer, covering mainly travel and occasionally sport. He previously spent two years as Sports Editor at the Watford Observer before turning his hand to travel writing, with his work appearing in various national UK publications. He has gone from providing matchday commentary for Blyth Spartans to covering FA Cup and Euros finals, as well as interviewing the likes of Claudio Ranieri, Alan Shearer and Glenn Hoddle, among other big names.
