Football Australia is proud to confirm that four Australian match officials have been selected by FIFA to officiate at the Men’s FIFA World Cup 2026™, underlining Australia’s strong standing in world football officiating.
The Australian officials appointed are:
- Alireza Faghani – Referee
- George Lakrindis – Assistant Referee
- Andrew Lindsay – Assistant Referee
- Shaun Evans – Video Match Official
Their selection follows a rigorous international assessment process conducted by FIFA over several years, with appointments awarded on the basis of performance excellence, consistency and professionalism across domestic leagues, AFC competitions and FIFA tournaments.
Quotes attributed to Head of Refereeing, Jon Moss:
“The appointments mark another significant milestone for Australian refereeing and reflect the success of Football Australia’s high‑performance officiating pathways, which continue to develop match officials capable of performing on football’s biggest stage.
“Football Australia congratulates Alireza, George, Andrew and Shaun on this outstanding achievement. Their selection to officiate at the world’s premier football tournament is a testament to their commitment, resilience and sustained elite performance.
“Football Australia also acknowledges the broader national refereeing community — including member federations, referees coaches and support staff — whose collective efforts continue to elevate Australian match officials to the highest levels of the international game.”
The four officials will form part of FIFA Team One, the global refereeing group entrusted with officiating the most expansive FIFA World Cup™ in history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches and three host nations.
The selection process was based on quality and consistency of performances at highest level.
The Full list of appointed match officials for the FIFA World Cup 2026 can be found here.
