When Italian referee Maurizio Mariani leads his team onto the pitch for Monday's Group H clash between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia (23:00 BST), the officials will be dressed in an unusual shade — pink.

The choice is no accident. FIFA referees have spent the weeks leading up to the 2026 World Cup based in Miami, Florida, and the colour is a deliberate tribute to the city that has hosted them.

A nod to the Magic City

Miami is long associated with its vivid pink palette — from the flamingos that populate its parks to the Art Deco architecture lining Ocean Drive and the famous sunsets that bathe South Beach in rosy light. The officials have embraced that identity with open arms.

Pierluigi Collina, FIFA's Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, explained the thinking behind the decision.