The Canadian referee Drew Fischer about to make his WC debut, he will officiate France - Iraq.
Match #42
Group I
22 June 2026, 23:00 CET
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
FRANCE - IRAQ
Referee: Drew Fischer CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Micheal Barwegen CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Lyes Arfa CAN
Fourth Official: Sandro Schärer SUI
Reserve AR: Stéphane De Almeida SUI
Video Assistant Referee: Joe Dickerson USA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Antonio Garcia MEX
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Juan Soto VEN
Missed foul on 4' for shirt pull by Kone, poor positioning meant he was caught wrong side
ReplyDeleteCorrect yellow card
ReplyDeleteClip YC 6': https://streamable.com/atz0bh
DeleteGood YC
ReplyDeleteCorrect early YC, well done Fischer
ReplyDeleteOnly 4 minutes have been played, but it's very positive to see how dynamic the referee is. He starts moving early, scans the right areas, reads the game well, shows excellent fitness and acceleration, and has just issued a clear caution for stopping a promising attack without any hesitation. It's great to see an opening like this from a referee.
ReplyDeleteGreat yellow for Iraqi player on 6th min, great start for Fischer, I hope he continues setting this strong standard
ReplyDeleteGood YC, or maybe Collina won't be happy!
ReplyDeleteObvious and clear, so Collina will be happy.
DeleteNah,he didn't kill the player so Collina will not be happy.
DeleteLots of obvious YC and RC have been not given during the tournament. Ordinarily I’d agree in normal application of LOTG but this World Cup? I’d say supportable but low end of threshold.
DeleteWhy are there no replays of potential penalties?
ReplyDeleteAgree. Weird.
DeleteIs it just me or sometimes we can hear him talking, maybe with the mic from the refcam ?
ReplyDeleteHeard this too!
DeleteOh god yes ! We have now heard referee count !
DeleteYeah don’t know how it’s possible to hear him sometimes also we can clearly heard that his whistle do not sound like usual felt like the refcam mic is open sometimes
Delete15:00 goal kick Iraq. A quick sprint towards the goal line to show presence when there was potential for something to develop between the players.. I haven't seen many referees at this World Cup make that kind of run and then finish in the right position for the goal-kick decision. Hopefully he continues like this.
ReplyDeleteGood first impression by Fischer with his early very good YC. But we have to notice that’s the match is one-sided and not very challenging for canadian ref. But good job overall !
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. The game has been relatively straightforward so far, but I think the impression he gives and his level of readiness deserve to be highlighted. We've seen too many referees at this tournament with anonymous starts, cutting corners on their movement, or simply not looking fully switched on from the opening whistle.
DeleteThat's why the start and the overall presentation are important. Even in an easy game, Fischer has shown intensity, awareness, proper movement, and a willingness to get involved when needed. Those are positive signs regardless of the level of difficulty of the match.
Agree. Yes an overulled corner now by VAR or AR2 but same impression.
DeleteClip: https://streamable.com/5cc0y8
DeleteCool that we can hear almost everything he says, not sure it's intended though.
ReplyDeleteYeah that’s great not sure FIFA and Collina will be happy about it
DeleteNot on my broadcast. Maybe they are trying something different, ensuring the referee voice works during VAR reviews?
DeleteThat rain is crazy! Perhaps a thunder stoppage is incoming. Its like a monsoon atm!
ReplyDeleteYeah big storm coming probably the first game stopped
DeleteUnfortunately our expert on big storms isnt on VAR today :(
DeleteJust seen a picture from outside the stadium from a journalist, massive black cloud on its way, id say the monsoon is here to stay
DeleteClear foul missed in front of the bench don’t know how the 4th official missed it
ReplyDeleteIts not a foul... ball was played... 2 very good no foul decisions back to back
DeleteDisagree. Clear foul by French player.
DeleteThe ball was not played ! clear foul
DeleteA16 +1
DeleteClip: https://streamable.com/gi8w8t
DeleteThanks for the clip, foul missed here.
DeleteThis World Cup, good call and Collina/Busacca will be happy with the call
DeleteSorry but this a new mandatory YC missed…
ReplyDeleteperhaps we use the word mandatory too much?
DeleteNot at all. Dangerous gesture. Reckless challenge with high foot.
DeleteWhich minute mandatory yellow?
DeleteSorry don’t notice it clearly.
DeleteA clear foul was missed... The 4th official, Sandro, could have helped
ReplyDelete39:00–39:30 Good decisions in both situations. First near the technical area where the French player gets to the ball first and the Iraqi player exaggerates the contact significantly. Then seconds later at midfield when the Iraqi player pushes the ball too far ahead and throws himself into the opponent. The referee correctly waves play on in both cases.
ReplyDeleteDisagree Rabiot is not getting the ball at all, foul’missed
Delete+ 1
DeleteAt this World Cup? Are we surprised, we all need to adjust our radar when it comes to foul recognition
DeleteExcellent when needed is what id make of team Canada in this half.... very good
ReplyDelete100% agree
Delete46:20 France are about to play the ball forward and the referee reads it early, starting his movement before the pass is made and already being in motion as the ball is played into the next area. Small details, but they often make the difference when it comes to being in the right position for the next situation.
ReplyDeleteVery good Fischer in a quite easy half. But referee is on the « tempo » of players. Perhaps a YC needed more but not « mandatory » as I said. A possibility but not clear error. Just a wrong corner awarded corrected by VAR. Convincing canadianisme crew on this storming time.
ReplyDeleteCanadian *
DeleteI like the style of letting the game flow and play on, but there are fouls that should be called and yellow cards that should be shown. A calm game can suddenly spiral out of control due to a bad decision.
ReplyDelete2nd half is delayed due to thunder and lightning say the BBC
ReplyDelete15 minute clock for the Warmup has just started
DeleteAnd theres more lightning.... suspended indefinitely now
Delete30 mn pause minimum announced in French television.
DeleteRestart at 7pm local 1am EU time
ReplyDeleteThey said now on French tv 15 mn for players return and 30 to restart.
DeleteBut another channel said 1h too.
DeleteWarm up at 30 minutes before restart so 1am EU
DeleteI believe Bebek would do perfectly as 4th tonight, as ‘there is a big storm in the city and it may come here’
ReplyDeleteLmao
Delete«grandissimo quarto»
Delete@Juan - Dale Johnson wrote an article for BBC today where he talked about the use of VAR so far. He had a little comment towards the end that limiting replays is an intentional effort to lower levels of controversy.
ReplyDeleteWell,that is obvious given the fact that VAR is only calling ref when there is 150 percent refs missed call.
DeleteWho cares about broken legs,potential injuries?
Most important thing is no RC's and 2 to 3 YC's.
Nobody wants refs like Mateu or Siebert.
One likes to be main focus,other refs the game the right way.
Appears there is a further 30 minute delay at the least
ReplyDeletehttps://x.com/archivovar/status/2069180237359751298?s=46&t=Ok5OCp_U1mZPFDKlm4EOGQ
ReplyDeleteI was doutbful about this action but very questionnable no VAR Check on this action. Seems very clear penalty with images from Archivo VAR.
Would love to watch a real replay hard to tell here but really surprise that no replays were shown even from different channel than the international broadcast
DeleteKick off for the 2nd half at 7.30 am local, 1.50 EU time
ReplyDeleteConcerning Argentina, New replays from another angle by Belgian TV : IMO Clear foul missed and VAR HAVE TO INTERVENE here ! https://x.com/adrirm33/status/2069185462585958906?s=46&t=Ok5OCp_U1mZPFDKlm4EOGQ
ReplyDeletewhat happen next, a throw in or a goal ?
DeleteGoal 1-0 by Messi…
DeleteThat’s also a special situation for canadian referees. Difficult to stay focus with this long delay.
ReplyDeleteWill have the hydration break? 😂
ReplyDeleteNo, no hydration break for this 2nd half
Delete