Alireza Faghani becomes first referee to feature at four World Cups

Alireza Faghani has become the first centre referee in football history to appear at four different World Cups after overseeing France v Senegal on Tuesday night at MetLife Stadium. His World Cup journey began in Brazil in 2014, where he was listed as a reserve referee. He then worked matches on the field in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 before taking another step into the record books in North America in 2026.

The milestone underlines his longevity at the top level of refereeing. Across more than a decade, Faghani has maintained the fitness and trust needed to stay in FIFA's plans for major international tournaments.

Born in Iran and now based in Australia, Faghani has built a reputation that has carried him from Asia's football scene to the game's biggest stage.