‘The noise was unbelievable’: the referee’s view of Mexico v England at the World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is one of the most widely watched and highly scrutinised sporting events globally, with referee decisions often coming under intense examination. Refereeing consistency and accuracy are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the tournament, and high-profile mistakes can have significant implications for teams and their progression. The England vs Mexico match is part of the ongoing World Cup, where refereeing decisions can greatly impact the outcome of matches and the overall standings.

‘The noise was unbelievable’: the referee’s view of Mexico v England at the World Cup

England’s manager Thomas Tuchel called the officiating ‘just not good enough’ in the fiery last-16 tie. Now Alireza Faghani gives his version of events It was 6pm on 5 July in Mexico City, and Alireza Faghani, a 48-year-old Australian-Iranian, was asleep in the locker room, snoring. His assistants had turned the music down. Had it not been for the muffled roar of nearly 90,000 fans through the concrete walls of the Estadio Azteca, he could have slept until the following morning. Faghani was the referee for Mexico v England in the last 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Mexico hadn’t lost a competitive game at the Azteca since 2013, at least in part because they’re used to the conditions. Situated 2,240 metres above sea level, the air contains less oxygen. Opponents struggle to breathe, let alone win. Continue reading...

England vs Mexico referee made ‘bizarre’ World Cup call that baffled top officials