Bram Van Driessche as main VAR in Ghana-Panama World Cup match

Belgian referee Bram Van Driessche acted as the principal video assistant referee (VAR) in the Ghana‑Panama group match of the 2026 World Cup, overseeing the game in which Ghana secured a 90+5 minute winner through Caleb Yirenkyi and the match ended without any major VAR interventions. Before the Ghana‑Panama encounter, Van Driessche served as an assistant VAR in the Ivory Coast‑Ecuador group game of the same tournament. That appointment marked his first involvement on the World Cup video‑review panel. During the Ghana‑Panama match, Van Driessche did not have to overturn any on‑field calls. Both teams appealed for a penalty after minor pushes, but the VAR did not advise the referee to change the decision.

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The Belgian official therefore assumed a more prominent responsibility than in his debut World Cup appearance. Observers noted that he fulfilled the role without controversy, reflecting the confidence placed in him. Van Driessche explained to , "Comme mon parcours sur le terrain n’a pas toujours été simple, j’ai choisi de me spécialiser dans l’assistance vidéo. Ces deux dernières années, j’ai réalisé de bonnes performances et beaucoup progressé. Aujourd’hui, cela porte ses fruits. C’est clairement l’un des sommets de ma carrière. Mais je ne serai vraiment satisfait que si je réalise également une bonne Coupe du monde." He said his decision to focus on video assistance allowed him to reach a World Cup. In Belgium, Van Driessche is known for refereeing the Belgian Cup final between Union SG and Anderlecht as the main referee. He remains the sole Belgian official appointed to the 2026 World Cup. Van Driessche does not act as a field referee in the 2026 tournament. He opted to concentrate on video assistance to secure a World Cup appointment.