Football Australia has confirmed match officials Alireza Faghani, George Lakrindis, Andrew Lindsay and Shaun Evans have been selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
No stranger to refereeing in the Isuzu UTE A-League, Faghani has now been selected to referee at the showpiece event in the USA, Canada and Mexico having previously officiated at numerous international events, including last year’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Fellow Isuzu UTE A-League referee Evans will also be heading stateside to be deployed as a specialist Video Match Official whilst Lakrindis and Lindsay will be assistant referees.
“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,” said Football Australia’s Head of Refereeing, Jon Moss.
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“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.”
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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.
