Faghani Appointed for Crucial Knockout Match
FIFA has appointed Australian-Iranian referee Alireza Faghani to take charge of the highly anticipated World Cup round of 16 match between England and Mexico. The game is scheduled for 6pm local time (1am UK time) at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Background and Career
Faghani, 47, was born in Kashmar, Iran, but relocated his family to Brisbane, Australia in 2019, citing better opportunities for their personal and professional lives. He has officiated some of the biggest matches in football, including the 2016 Olympic gold medal match and the 2025 Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.
This World Cup marks a historic milestone: Faghani is one of the first match officials to be appointed to four men's World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026), alongside colleague Juan Belatti.
Controversy and Experience
In 2024, an online petition calling for Faghani's suspension garnered over 865,000 signatures after he issued a contentious second yellow card to Iraq's Aymen Hussein during an AFC Asian Cup match against Jordan, while allegedly overlooking a similar celebration by a Jordanian player.
Earlier in the 2026 tournament, Faghani officiated the group-stage match between France and Senegal, where he used the pitchside monitor to overturn a penalty claim by Kylian Mbappe.
Officiating Team
Faghani will be supported by fellow Australian assistant referees George Lakrindis and Andrew Lindsay. The video assistant referee (VAR) is Zakaria Brinsi from Morocco, and the fourth official is Jalal Jayed, also from Morocco.
