England’s 2-1 defeat against Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semifinals likely removed one of the most significant obstacles to Alireza Faghani being selected to referee the final match.
The English squad had previously defeated Mexico 3-2 in a controversial Round of 16 clash refereed by Faghani, a match defined by Jarell Quansah’s red card and intense protests from the English players and coaching staff. Following that game, England manager Thomas Tuchel heavily criticised Faghani’s performance, calling it “not good enough” and claiming that key decisions went against his side. No matter how groundless those complaints were, appointing Faghani to another England match, let alone the World Cup final, could have generated unwanted controversy for FIFA.
Now, England has been eliminated. The referee who was once purged from Iran’s international list by the Islamic Republic’s Football Federation, whose assets were seized by the judiciary following social media posts condemning the bloody crackdowns of December 2025 and January 2026, and who was branded a “traitor” by IRGC-affiliated outlets such as Fars and Tasnim, stands on the cusp of officiating the biggest sporting event on Earth.
Iranian Referees in World Cup History
