English Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has been appointed to oversee tonight's FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage encounter between Senegal and Iraq in Toronto.

The match carries enormous weight for both sides. Neither Senegal nor Iraq have collected a point in Group E after exchanging defeats with France and Norway, leaving them anchored at the bottom of the standings. A heavy win is the only realistic path forward for Senegal; Iraq require an even larger margin to harbour any realistic hope of reaching the round of 32.

Who is Anthony Taylor?

Taylor, 47, is one of England's most recognisable officials and has spent 16 years officiating in the Premier League. He was elevated to FIFA's international list in 2013 and has since established himself as one of the most experienced referees in European football.

This is his second FIFA World Cup. In Qatar, he took charge of two group stage matches and made headlines when he dismissed South Korea manager Paulo Bento late in a game against Ghana.

Taylor has also refereed a UEFA Europa League final, underscoring his pedigree at the highest level of the game.

His numbers this season

In the most recent Premier League campaign, Taylor officiated 31 matches, distributing 121 yellow cards — an average of nearly four per game. He awarded a penalty roughly once every five matches and sent off just two players across the entire league season.

Those dismissals went to Moises Caicedo of Chelsea, who was shown a red card against Arsenal, and Jean-Clair Todibo of West Ham United in a match against Chelsea.

Taylor's World Cup 2026 record so far

Before this appointment, Taylor had already taken charge of one match at FIFA World Cup 2026, overseeing Colombia's group stage victory over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca.

He will be assisted by fellow English officials Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, with Saudi Arabia's Khalid Al-Turais serving as fourth official.