Overview
- Mexico's football federation confirmed Alireza Faghani as the central referee for the World Cup Round of 16 meeting with England.
- Faghani is Iranian‑born, naturalized Australian and is widely recognized by FIFA as an experienced international match official.
- Supporters noted Faghani refereed Germany versus Mexico at the 2018 World Cup, a match Mexico won, and some fans view his appointment as a positive omen for the home side.
- During this 2026 tournament he has already been assigned to high‑profile games including France vs. Senegal and Portugal vs. Colombia, underscoring FIFA's use of him for big matches.
- The match is set for Estadio Ciudad de México with roughly 87,000 expected to attend, and reports that FIFA is considering moving kickoff earlier for weather remain unconfirmed.