Saturday, 28 March 2026

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Referee appointments for UEFA Play-Offs (Finals)

Referees in charge of 2026 FIFA World Cup UEFA Play-Offs Finals, game to be played on Tuesday 31 March 2026. 


UEFA Playoffs for WC 2026, Finals

Tuesday 31 March 2026

Path A Final
20:45 CET - Zenica (Stadion Bilino Polje)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - ITALY 
Referee: 
Assistant Referee 1: 
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official: 
Video Assistant Referee: 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: 
FIFA Referee Assessor: Martin Ingvarsson SWE
FIFA Match Commissioner: Jirí Novák CZE

Path B Final
20:45 CET - Solna (Strawberry Arena)
SWEDEN - POLAND 
Referee: 
Assistant Referee 1: 
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official: 
Video Assistant Referee: 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: 
FIFA Referee Assessor: Matteo Simone Trefoloni ITA 
FIFA Match Commissioner: Peter Oskam NED

Path C Final
20:45 CET - Pristina (Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri)
KOSOVO - TÜRKIYE
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee:
FIFA Referee Assessor: Herbert Fandel GER
FIFA Match Commissioner: Filip Popovski MKD

Path D Final
20:45 CET - Prague (Epet Arena)
CZECH REPUBLIC - DENMARK 
Referee: 
Assistant Referee 1: 
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official: 
Video Assistant Referee: 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: 
FIFA Referee Assessor: Stavros Tritsonis GRE
FIFA Match Commissioner: Nils Fisketjonn NOR
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20 comments:

  1. Chefren28 March 2026 at 21:04

    Official source for Oliver: https://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pageID=202&ftxtID=50079

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Abdiaziz ahmed yousuf28 March 2026 at 21:27

      Mr chefren how do you see the chances for 17 European referee who compete for the world before the is made the final selection

      Delete
  2. Abdiaziz ahmed yousuf28 March 2026 at 21:12

    And the others may be
    Italy vs bosnia : turpin
    Czech vs denmark : sanchez
    Poland vs sweden: mariani
    So vincic, two Spanish and schärer may have no match

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    Replies
    1. Peter28 March 2026 at 21:27

      I do not think that Maurizio Mariani (ITA) will officiate the match Sweden - Poland with observer Matteo Simone Trefoloni (ITA).

      Delete
    2. Abdiaziz ahmed yousuf28 March 2026 at 21:28

      Yes made viceverse
      Poland vs sweden sanchez
      Czech vs denmark: mariani

      Delete
  3. Sin Bin28 March 2026 at 21:14

    I am interested in the choice of Kavanagh as fourth official. Appreciate it follows the trend from the semi-finals with the new elites and he is from the same country as Oliver, and everyone has to gain experience from somewhere, but might we have expected a bigger name/personality for what could be a heated final?

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    Replies
    1. Chefren28 March 2026 at 21:37

      Understandable point of view, but the choice is explained by the fact that Kavanagh is Oliver's countryman and he is Elite referee, at least this last factor should be enough to ensure a certain experience in the role, otherwise committee should have appointed all the big Elite as fourth officials as well, maybe too much...

      Delete
    2. Chefren28 March 2026 at 21:40

      The only game who had the treatment you are talking about is Italy - Northern Ireland so far, and we know why, with Gil Manzano fourth official. Verry curious about Turpin's fourth official in Bosnia: maybe even Letexier... but I think rather Bastien.

      Delete
    3. Abdiaziz ahmed yousuf28 March 2026 at 21:45

      Letexier in the seminar

      Delete
    4. Philipp S28 March 2026 at 21:52

      Could even have been Taylor in Pristina, if they had wanted a big name in that role.

      For Turpin, I could also imagine Schärer as 4th, if he doesn't get a game himself.

      Delete
  4. Chefren28 March 2026 at 21:42

    Mariani in the game without Trefoloni and maybe Vincic with Trefoloni? It's hard to believe they leave the Slovenian out.
    So in that case the Spanish "affair" would be clear: no assignments at all for Sanchez, and Hernandez called exactly for that... we'll know tomorrow.

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    Replies
    1. Abdiaziz ahmed yousuf28 March 2026 at 21:44

      If you answer my question it is good

      Delete
    2. Philipp S28 March 2026 at 21:55

      Still possible, that Hernandez or Schärer get a game instead of Mariani (out for protection reasons?), maybe to prove themselves for a WC spot.

      Delete
    3. Abdiaziz ahmed yousuf28 March 2026 at 22:00

      I was talking the chances for the seventeen European referees that compete to become for the final list

      Delete
    4. Mikael W28 March 2026 at 22:07

      Don't doubt your predictions Philipp! :D

      Delete
    5. Anonymous28 March 2026 at 23:04

      Mikael probably knows more… :)
      My guess is Schärer.

      Does anyone understand what’s going on in Spain and the Hdz addition? Has Sánchez Martínez been rejected after a specific game? Just wondering.

      Maybe I’m overthinking it and it’s “just” Vincic with Trefoloni, but that feels odd if FIFA is wrapping up the lineup. You’d expect a more doubtful name, e.g. Schärer with a push from Busacca. Vincic with Tritsonis also seems unlikely after Chelsea–PSG. Isn’t Vincic being protected too much? He’s fit - I mean the socials show he ran the fitness test - yet hardly any domestic games. And internationally he keeps getting the “safe” do-or-die matches, while others take the real heat. In your final season, isn’t there the need to make a case if you want to go deep at the World Cup? Just look at Turpin’s games. Or Taylor at 47.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous28 March 2026 at 23:09

      *Safe* appointments in National Team competitions, especially in the final qualification rounds (Vincic)

      Delete
    7. Philipp S28 March 2026 at 23:12

      @Mikael: Alright, they are obviously the only arrangement, that makes any sense ;)

      I don't think, Vincic is protected at all at the moment. SWE-POL is a massively important game with the risk of things going wrong. And he did major second leg games in the last two CL rounds (+ the important PSG game on MD8).

      Delete
    8. Anonymous28 March 2026 at 23:20

      @Philipp: he is, in the Nations football environment, not CLUB football.

      France - Ukraine in what is an expected French win at home.
      Netherlands - Finland: easy Dutch win
      Israel - Italy more sensitive but early in the quali

      In 2023 he got Ukraine vs Macedonia in the final round, away from the spotlight again.

      EURO 2024: hidden game MD1, big game MD2, again no appointment in the final qualification round to keep him safe. There is some sort of strategy ungoing to keep him clean.

      Delete
  5. Treff28 March 2026 at 22:59

    Oliver managed the Türkiye-Spain match in the group stage and Spain won 6 - 0. Of course, that match is not a criterion

    ReplyDelete

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