Iranian-Born Referee Faghani Officiates at World Cup After Nation Switch
Alireza Faghani, the 48-year-old football referee, officiated the France versus Senegal match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday, marking his fourth consecutive World Cup appearance. Faghani, who now represents Australia, had a routine game by his standards, denying Kylian Mbappé a penalty after a pitchside monitor review and overseeing France’s 3-1 victory. But his presence at the tournament is far from ordinary given his background.
Born in Kashmar, Iran, Faghani is the son of a referee. He had a short playing career before taking up the whistle in 1994 and became a FIFA referee in 2008. He built an impressive career, officiating at four AFC Asian Cups, the 2016 Olympic final, and the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, making him one of the few referees to appear in four straight editions of the tournament. In 2019, he moved with his family to Brisbane, Australia, citing a better environment for his family. In an interview with SBS Persian, he said, “When I spoke with some friends living in Australia, I felt that living there would suit my family situation better. There is a system in place here. Personal views don’t influence the system.”
In 2022, the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation removed Faghani from its international referees list. According to reports by IranWire and other outlets, this delisting came in retaliation for his support of the Mahsa Amini protests, which erupted in Iran after the death of a young woman in police custody and sparked widespread demonstrations for women’s rights. Faghani began representing Australia as an international referee in 2023, a bureaucratic switch that carried deeper personal and political implications.
The controversy intensified after the 2025 Club World Cup final, also held at MetLife Stadium. During the presentation ceremony, former US President Donald Trump came onto the pitch. Faghani shook his hand, and they posed for photographs, both giving a thumbs-up. Faghani later wrote on Instagram, “A final is never just another match. Grateful for the opportunity to be part of football history once again.” Iranian state television reportedly did not mention his name during the broadcast and cut short the ceremony, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Later, a poster appeared in Qom, south of Tehran, depicting Faghani with Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with Faghani’s medal replaced by a potato and the caption: “Congratulations on your medal, traitor.”
Despite this, IranWire observed this week that few Iranians worldwide view Faghani as an Australian referee; to the public, he remains entirely their own. Iran officially disowned him, yet many Iranians still claim him. At this World Cup, Iran’s team faced logistical hurdles, training in Tijuana because US visas arrived only the day before their first match. The federation president was denied entry to the United States, and fans’ ticket allocations were revoked. The team crossed the border for each game and returned to Mexico the same night. Meanwhile, Faghani was already in the US, ready to officiate.
Ahead of the tournament, Faghani told FIFA, “I am 48 years old. I am trying to enjoy every single moment of it.” His journey underscores the complex intersections of sport, identity, and political tensions.
