Italian referee Maurizio Mariani has been appointed to take charge of Colombia's FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K fixture against DR Congo at Guadalajara Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3 a.m. BST.

The match carries significant weight for Colombia, who know a victory will lift them back to the summit of Group K following Portugal's commanding win over Uzbekistan. Colombia opened their campaign with a 3-1 triumph over Uzbekistan, but DR Congo represent a considerably tougher opponent.

Mariani's credentials

Mariani is no stranger to high-stakes football. He was awarded FIFA international status in 2019 and earned promotion to the UEFA Elite refereeing category in 2024. His primary stage is Serie A, where he has built a reputation as a measured official.

The 2026 World Cup is already his second assignment — he previously oversaw the 1-1 draw between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in the group stage, a match that produced only one yellow card.

Over the past 12 months, Mariani has taken charge of 32 matches across all competitions, averaging 3.34 yellow cards per game. He has shown just two red cards in that period, suggesting a noticeably restrained approach to the harshest sanctions. His career-long averages tell a slightly different story: 4.25 yellows and 0.25 reds per match, indicating he tends to apply a firmer hand over the long run.

Most recently, Mariani took centre stage in the UEFA Europa Conference League final this summer, officiating the showpiece event in which Crystal Palace defeated Rayo Vallecano.

Full officiating team

Mariani will be supported on the touchlines by his Italian compatriots Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni, who serve as assistant referees. Juan Calderon of Costa Rica takes on the role of fourth official, while Juan Mora stands by as reserve in the event that an on-field replacement is required.