Drew Fischer will take charge of the high-stakes Group L meeting between Croatia and Ghana at the FIFA World Cup, with both nations fighting for a place in the Round of 32.

A draw would be enough to send Ghana's Black Stars into the knockout rounds for the first time since 2010, while a victory combined with a favourable result elsewhere could see them top the group ahead of England.

Fischer's path to the World Cup

The 45-year-old Canadian arrives at this fixture with a wealth of experience, having overseen 324 professional matches across club and international football. He was previously involved in the 2022 World Cup as a Video Assistant Referee before earning promotion to the middle for this edition.

Fischer's résumé includes the MLS Cup final, the 2019 Women's World Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup — a portfolio that reflects his standing as one of North America's most respected officials.

In his World Cup refereeing debut, Fischer showed a steady hand, issuing a single yellow card during France's 3-0 victory over Iraq in Group I.

A trailblazer in Canadian refereeing

Fischer made history in 2015 as one of only three Canadian officials elevated to FIFA's approved list of match officials — a landmark moment for the country's refereeing programme. Away from football, he holds a degree in physics from the University of Calgary.

Across his career in the MLS, Fischer has issued 1,073 bookings, averaging just over three per game, alongside 35 red cards in total.

Full officiating team for Philadelphia

Fischer will be supported by fellow Canadians Micheal Barwegen and Lyes Arfa as his assistant referees at Philadelphia Stadium. Mexico's Guillermo Pacheco will handle VAR duties, with Brazil's Rodolph Toski serving as Assistant Video Assistant Referee.