Could an Italian Referee Boss the 2026 World Cup Final? (Explained Simply)

Who is Mark Clattenburg and What Did He Say?

Imagine a soccer game is like a school playground, and the referee is the teacher who makes sure everyone follows the rules. Mark Clattenburg used to be one of the most important "teachers" in world soccer. He was a referee in England’s top league (the Premier League) and for FIFA (the big boss organization for world soccer). He even officiated (was the referee for) the 2016 EURO final, which is the big championship game for European countries.

On a podcast called Whistleblowers from the Daily Mail, Clattenburg said he has heard that an Italian referee might be chosen to be the head boss of the 2026 World Cup final (the most important soccer match on the planet). He mentioned that this choice would "upset a lot of people."

Why Is an Italian Referee a Big Deal?

• If an Italian official gets the final, it would be the fourth time since 1978 that a referee from Italy has been trusted with the sport’s most prestigious match (the World Cup final).
• Italy has only one representative at this year’s World Cup: a man named Maurizio Mariani.
  • He is 44 years old and comes from Rome.
  • He has already been the referee for three games at this summer’s tournament:
  • Saudi Arabia’s draw (tie) with Uruguay
  • Colombia’s win over DR Congo
  • Brazil’s win against Japan in the Round of 32 (a stage where 32 teams battle to stay in the competition)

Important: Clattenburg did not directly say Mariani’s name, but he pointed out that many of the top referee leaders are Italian. For example:

• Pierluigi Collina is the chairman (head) of FIFA’s Referees Committee.
• Roberto Rosetti leads UEFA’s (Europe’s soccer boss) refereeing department.

The Fairness Worries and the Balogun Case

Clattenburg says picking another Italian could add to a growing list of complaints that FIFA is giving special treatment at this tournament. A major example involves a player from the USA named Folarin Balogun.

What Happened With Balogun? (Step-by-Step)

1. Balogun received a straight red card (a card that immediately sends a player off the field) during the USA’s win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
2. Usually, that red card means he would automatically be suspended (not allowed to play the next game).
3. However, after US President Trump personally spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the card, the governing body lifted (canceled) the suspension.

Clattenburg shared his thoughts:

"I am hearing again that it could be an Italian referee. Infantino’s Italian, Collina’s Italian. Most of the power in the refereeing and wider football world is Italian. FIFA needs to keep everybody happy, all of the six confederations [these are the big regional groups of soccer nations]. If we go Italian again, are we saying there’s no other referees but Italian?"

He also said:

"If this year an Italian referee gets the chance again, bearing in mind what’s happened with FIFA at this tournament, it would be a big shock to me."

It’s Not About Skill — It’s About Fairness

Clattenburg made sure to say his complaint is not that Mariani is bad at refereeing. He explained:

"I am not saying an Italian doesn’t deserve it, but there’s an awful lot of talented referees that could referee that match."

In other words, many other countries have great referees who could do the job too.

Why Might the Referee Choices Be Limited?

• Countries like France, England, and Argentina are still playing in the tournament. Their top referees can only be considered for the final if their own national teams get knocked out (lose and go home).
• Also, because England and Argentina have political tensions (like a disagreement between governments), English referees cannot oversee an Argentina match, and the same rule applies the other way around.
• Because of these rules, the number of referees available to officiate the final is smaller than it might normally be.

Important: Even with fewer options, Clattenburg still believes that choosing another Italian official would "upset a lot of people" because it might look like FIFA only trusts one country for the biggest game.

Pictures from the Story

Italian referee Maurizio Mariani is the country’s only representative at this year’s World Cup (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Clattenburg stopped short of naming Mariani directly for the final (Image: Getty)

Summary

Let’s recap the key points in plain language:

• A famous ex-referee, Mark Clattenburg, thinks an Italian might be picked to referee the 2026 World Cup final.
• Italy’s only World Cup referee right now is Maurizio Mariani, who has already handled three games.
• Many of the most powerful referee jobs in soccer are held by Italians, which makes some folks worry about fairness.
• A recent case where a US player’s suspension was erased after political phone calls adds to those worries.
• Clattenburg says Mariani is likely skilled, but other nations also have talented referees who deserve a turn.
• Rules about teams still in the contest and country tensions limit who can be chosen, but another Italian pick would still shock and upset many.

FAQ

Q1: Who is Mark Clattenburg?
A1: He is a former top soccer referee who worked in England’s Premier League and for FIFA. He officiated the 2016 EURO final and now shares his opinions on a podcast.

Q2: What is the World Cup final and why does it matter?
A2: The World Cup final is the last and most important match of soccer’s biggest global tournament, where the best national teams fight to be crowned champions.

Q3: Why are people concerned about an Italian referee for the final?
A3: Because it would be the fourth time since 1978 that an Italian does it, and many high-level referee bosses are Italian, leading to fears that FIFA might be playing favorites.

Q4: What happened with the USA player Folarin Balogun?
A4: He got a red card that should have suspended him, but after President Trump talked to FIFA’s president, the suspension was lifted. This raised questions about fair treatment.

Q5: Why can’t English referees officiate Argentina matches?
A5: Due to political tensions between the two countries, referees from one nation are not allowed to oversee the other’s games, which also narrows the choices for the World Cup final.