Italian referee Maurizio Mariani will make his first appearance in the World Cup, where he will officiate the match between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, according to what the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced.
This selection confirms his position as one of the most prominent referees in Europe in recent years.
Despite his prominence in the world of arbitration, Mariani went through an unconventional career path, as he previously worked in the Italian merchant marine, before moving to the field of arbitration, which he began at the age of eighteen while studying at a military school in Venice.
The referee revealed in an interview with the European Football Association (UEFA) that he was a goalkeeper in his youth, following in the footsteps of his father, who went through the same experience, before he later decided to devote himself to arbitration.
Mariani rose through the refereeing ranks in Italy until he reached the Italian League in 2013, before obtaining the international badge in 2019. About nine years ago, he also turned to a psychological coach, with the aim of improving his ability to deal with pressure and make decisions in major matches.
The 2026 World Cup represents his first participation in the World Cup, after he became one of the elite referees in the world, as he officiated the European Conference League final between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, and he also participated as a fourth referee in the 2025 European League final.
Despite his upward trajectory, Mariani’s experience was not without controversy, as he faced criticism in the Italian League in 2024 due to some controversial arbitration decisions, most notably during the confrontation between Inter and Napoli, which sparked widespread debate within Italian arbitration circles. (Arabic)
