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
By The Canadian Press
Apr 9, 2026 | 9:25 AM
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.
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.