Calgary referee Drew Fischer picked for FIFA World Cup officiating roster

Inter Miami's Baltasar Rodriguez (11) protests to referee Drew Fischer during the first half of the MLS Cup final soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Saturday, December 6, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Calgary referee Drew Fischer will work the FIFA World Cup after being named Thursday to the tournament’s list of match officials.

FIFA selected 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials from 50 member associations for the expanded event.

Assistant referees Micheal Barwegen of Coaldale, Alta., and Lyes Arfa of Laval, Que., were also named, giving Canada three officials at the tournament.

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The appointments, drawn from all six confederations, include 41 more officials than the 2022 tournament in Qatar and follow a three-year evaluation process based on performance at domestic and international levels. Six women match officials were also selected, matching the 2022 total.

Fischer, 45, is a two-time Major League Soccer referee of the year and has worked more than 200 MLS matches since his debut in 2012.

He served as a video assistant referee at the World Cup in Qatar, including the semifinal, and has also worked as a VAR at the women’s World Cup and Club World Cup, and as an on-field and video official at the Olympic Games.

Match officials will report to a pre-tournament seminar in Miami beginning May 31, with video officials based in Dallas at the International Broadcast Centre during the competition.

As in previous tournaments, goal-line technology and an advanced version of semi-automated offside will be used, along with connected ball technology and referee body cameras that will provide new on-field perspectives. 

“For the first time in World Cup history, fans will be able to see things from the referee’s on-field perspective,” FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina said.

The World Cup kicks off June 11 in Mexico City and Guadalajara, with matches also played in the United States and Canada.

Toronto will host six matches at the tournament, with Vancouver staging seven.

The Canadian men’s team opens the tournament June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina before facing Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2026.