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#Post#: 106928--------------------------------------------------
Opener and Final
DIR By: redman2014
Date: June 7, 2026, 11:37 am
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What are our thoughts on the officials for the Opener?
Favourite for the Final?
#Post#: 106929--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: GT1
Date: June 7, 2026, 11:48 am
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May well be an outlier here but I think Michael Oliver has a
shout at the final if England don't make it. I wouldn't be
surprised if FIFA decides to throw in a curveball and give
Ismail Elfath (USA) a shot as well.
Alireza Faghani can't be overlooked either - he refereed the
Club World Cup final last year and is certainly a safe pair of
hands
#Post#: 106930--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: Mackem ref
Date: June 7, 2026, 12:08 pm
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I think it could well be Faghani’s year for the final. I feel
like uefa have provided the ref for lots of finals recently so
most likely won’t be another uefa ref.
As for the opener, I reckon we’ll see Marciniak in Mexico City!
#Post#: 106931--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: dave26
Date: June 7, 2026, 12:14 pm
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My prediction is Kovacs for the opener and Faghani for the final
, possibly his last WC and a thank you token as IIRC this will
be his 4th WC tournament and I think he’s the only ref to date
with that honour so wouldn’t reflect well on FIFA if he does
well but doesn’t get it
#Post#: 106933--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: GT1
Date: June 7, 2026, 12:32 pm
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--- Quote from: Mackem ref link ---
>
> I think it could well be Faghani’s year for the final. I feel
like uefa have provided the ref for lots of finals recently so
most likely won’t be another uefa ref.
>
> As for the opener, I reckon we’ll see Marciniak in Mexico
City!
>
--- End Quote ---
Indeed. There has only been 1 final refereed by an official from
outside UEFA and CONMEBOL in 22 world cups (15 UEFA, 5 CONMEBOL,
1 CAF, 1 edition had a round robin rather than a final) so he
would also be the first Asian to referee the final. As has been
mentioned, the fact he's on his 4th WC (and almost certainly his
last due to him being 48), I think it would be fitting for him
to go out with such an impressive achievement.
#Post#: 106935--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: mutn3
Date: June 7, 2026, 12:35 pm
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Look no further than the Americas for the final.
Elfath has a great way with players, but I'd like to see Barton
somewhere nearby. Let it play out!
#Post#: 106937--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: June 7, 2026, 12:41 pm
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Im sure it’ll be a UEFA appointment as to keep continental
neutrality in action..
I’d go for Oliver to open up!
#Post#: 106952--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: Harvey2002
Date: June 8, 2026, 5:55 am
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Turpin for the opener and Faghani for the final.
#Post#: 106955--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: Ryanellis
Date: June 8, 2026, 8:06 am
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I think Marciniak will have the opener but I’d want it to be
Oliver.
Doubt it’ll be Turpin as he had the opener in 2022.
#Post#: 106957--------------------------------------------------
Re: Opener and Final
DIR By: olliebcafc
Date: June 8, 2026, 8:23 am
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--- Quote from: Ryanellis link ---
>
> I think Marciniak will have the opener but I’d want it to be
Oliver.
>
> Doubt it’ll be Turpin as he had the opener in 2022.
>
--- End Quote ---
It was Orsato in 2022, Turpin had the euro 2024 opener, which
funnily enough probably cost him the final.
I’m going for Oliver, but if it’s to be a South American
probably Wilton Sampaio
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