Alireza Faghani will referee England’s World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday night. The 48-year-old Australian arrives with a long international record, but this appointment also brings fresh attention after a VAR-related flashpoint earlier this summer.
It is a high-profile assignment for a referee who has already handled major matches at the Fifa World Cup, the Olympic men’s gold medal match and the Club World Cup final. England and Mexico now get one of the most experienced officials in the tournament, with George Lakrindis and Andrew Lindsay as assistant referees and Zakaria Brinsi as reserve assistant referee.
Faghani’s World Cup record
Faghani migrated from Iran in 2019 and has refereed under the Australian flag since 2023. This summer is his third Fifa World Cup. Before that, he took charge of four matches in Russia in 2018 and two group-stage matches at the last World Cup in Qatar.
His World Cup record in Russia included France’s 4-3 win over Argentina, England’s defeat to Belgium and Mexico's 1-0 win over Germany. He also handled the goalless draw between Colombia and Portugal, giving him direct experience of several teams and styles that matter in knockout football.
England and Mexico officials
The wider officiating team for England vs Mexico is set around Nicolas Gallo on VAR, with Juan Lara and Juan Soto as assistant video assistant referees. That structure puts Faghani at the center on the pitch, while the video officials handle the review layer behind him.
Coverage starts at midnight, with kick-off at 1pm BST on Monday, 6 July. England and Mexico go into a knockout tie at Azteca Stadium with a referee who has already been tested in the biggest FIFA settings, and who now carries the extra scrutiny that comes with a contentious decision earlier in the summer.
That decision came when he did not give France a penalty in their opening game against Senegal despite a VAR review showing contact on Kylian Mbappe. For England and Mexico, the practical effect is simple: every major call will now be viewed through that lens, and Faghani’s handling of the last-16 tie will be judged against both his record and that earlier controversy.
