Law 5 - The Referee

Saturday, 20 June 2026

2026 FIFA World Cup Match 35: Netherlands - Sweden (discussion)

After a minor injury, reported by FIFA, Michael Oliver can make his debut at 2026 World Cup!

2026 FIFA WC - Referee appointments for Group Stage starting from Match #17

Appointments of match officials at 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage.

Szymon Marciniak POL meets again Argentina

2026 FIFA World Cup Match 31: Türkiye - Paraguay (discussion)

Following the footsteps of his compatriot Joel Aguilar, Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton hopes for success at the FIFA World Cup.

2026 FIFA World Cup Match 29: Brazil - Haiti (discussion)

It's a very particular story between the Spanish FIFA referee from Canary Islands and the 2026 World Cup, but no matters, when the game starts, it's all about the performance.

2026 FIFA World Cup Match 30: Scotland - Morocco (discussion)

Difficult to emulate Irmatov's career, but here is a potential start nonetheless: Uzbekistan's Ilgiz Tantashev ready for his World Cup debut.

2026 FIFA World Cup Match 32: USA - Australia (discussion)

Felix Zwayer has left the honor of Champions League final to his countryman Daniel Siebert, but now it's FIFA time and so, here USA - Australia at 2026 WC for him.

Matchday 1: Review

A small review of the first twenty-four matches in the twenty-third FIFA World Cup.

Mr Busacca, it should not work like this

In principle it is unfair to single out specific referees, and I would like to put firmly on the record that I wish Omar Al-Ali and his crew well for the New Zealand against Egypt match on Sunday evening. But, some things must be said: Al-Ali's selection as main referee is, from my perspective, one of the most dubiously-originated appointments in recent World Cup history.