Amaury Majors is thrilled to have taken another step towards his goal of officiating at the Fifa World Cup after being appointed as a referee during the Concacaf Under-17 Men’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Guatemala.

The 25-year-old was in the middle for the match between Guatemala and Antigua and was one of two Bermudian officials involved in the Group C contest, with compatriot Clinton Hayward one of the assistant referees.

“It’s a real honour to represent Bermuda on this stage,” Majors told The Royal Gazette.

“Being the first centre referee from home to officiate at this level in 20 years means a lot to me, but it’s also about showing that Bermuda’s match officials belong on the world stage.”

While happy to have ticked another box, Majors isn’t getting carried away by his latest success.

“I’m just focused on keeping my feet on the ground, applying everything I’ve been taught, and taking it one match at a time,” he said.

“If I can do my part well and make the country proud, that’s what matters most.”

Crenstant Williams, chairman of the Bermuda Football Association Referee Committee, said the appointment is a significant milestone for refereeing in Bermuda and a “clear sign” that the committee’s vision is coming to fruition.

“To see one of our officials selected as a centre referee at the Concacaf Under-17 qualifiers, the first in 20 years, speaks volumes about the hard work, preparation and commitment of our entire group,” he said.

“We are extremely proud of all our match officials and hope they continue to perform at a consistently high level on the regional and international stage.

“We also hope moments like this inspire more Bermudians to take up officiating and see the pathway that exists for growth and success.

“We’re grateful for the continued support of the BFA Executive Committee, the Government, Concacaf and the CFU in helping us create these opportunities.”

Majors hopes to become only the second Bermudian to officiate at the World Cup after Keith Dunstan, who ran the line in three matches at the 1970 tournament in Mexico.

The firefighter, who also holds a Concacaf referee badge, is off to a good start for the year after being retained in the Fifa Referee List last month along with referee assistants Natasha Trott, Stefan Maybury and Hayward.

Majors and Hayward’s appointments at the Concacaf Under-17 Men’s World Cup Qualifier arrives fresh on the heels of compatriot Sar Smith, who took the first step towards his goal of becoming a Fifa referee after completing the Caribbean Football Union Next Generation Referee Course in St Kitts last month.

Established in 2022, the course aims to strengthen referee development across the Caribbean and targets high-performing match officials within CFU member associations who meet the prerequisites for progression to the Fifa International Referees List.