​In May of this year, as national teams were finalizing friendlies and making last adjustments ahead of the World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the German Football Association (DFB) arranged a swap of referee teams for two friendlies: Germany versus Finland at the MEWA Arena in Mainz, and Brazil versus Panama at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. Under the agreement, Matheus Candançan was assigned to officiate Germany–Finland, with Victor Hugo Imazu dos Santos and Alex Ang Ribeiro as assistants. Paulo Cesar Zanovelli served as the fourth official, and Rodrigo D’Alonso Ferreira and Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral handled VAR responsibilities. Germany emerged victorious, 4–0. Candançan commented on his experience, noting that it was a valuable opportunity to engage with a different football culture in a high-stakes match between national teams, with Germany nearing World Cup participation. He added that the structure and support he received were on par with what he experiences in Brazil, reflecting a similar level of organization between Brazilian friendlies and those conducted in Germany.
Paulo Cesar Zanovelli also participated in the exchange as the fourth official for the Brazil–Finland test. He complemented this with praise for the German Federation’s organizational standards, underscoring that Brazilian refereeing is comparable to European levels. Zanovelli highlighted the excellence of Brazilian refereeing infrastructure, emphasizing that the culture of football and the players’ respect contribute to a strong environment. He noted that Brazilian referees benefited from interaction with local instructors, observing how German teams employ technology and integrate it into their daily operations. For him, the experience reinforced the belief that Brazilian refereeing is on the right track and that the CBF and its Refereeing Commission provide excellent support.
The Brazil–Panama match, won by Brazil 6–2, had Daniel Schlager as the main referee, with Sven Washitzki-Günther and Rafael Foltyn as assistants. Florian Badstübner served as the fourth official, while Pascoal Müller and Robert Schröder were responsible for VAR duties.
Meanwhile, training for CBF PRO referees continued in Madrid at the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). On Thursday, the referees carried out on-field physical training in the morning and, in the afternoon, received instruction from the CBF Refereeing Commission’s technical staff on the new rules being applied at the World Cup. The sense from the group was one of confidence in the ongoing development, with the Madrid sessions allowing them to become more familiar with the new regulations that aim to extend playing time and improve match flow. The overall impression was that the work in Madrid is of a high standard, with ongoing dialogue about the evolving rules and their practical application on the field.