Tridib BaparnashNew Delhi, June 18 -- When Alireza Faghani walked onto the field to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage match between France and Senegal, it marked yet another milestone in a remarkable career. The Iranian-born referee was appearing at his fourth World Cup, placing him among a select group of officials trusted by FIFA on football's biggest stage.
Faghani's World Cup journey began in Brazil in 2014 and continued through Russia, Qatar and now North America.
Over the years, he has built a reputation as one of the world's most respected referees and is widely considered a contender to handle the tournament's biggest knockout matches.
Unlike most referees, whose names rarely make headlines, Faghani became a global fi...