Maurizio Mariani, an Italian FIFA-listed referee since 2019, has been appointed to officiate the World Cup Group H opener between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia at Miami Stadium on June 15.

Mariani brings considerable experience to the assignment, having taken charge of more than 430 matches across European and global competitions. Among his notable appointments was the fiercely contested Serie A derby between AC Milan and Inter Milan in October 2020 — a match Inter Milan won 2-1 at the San Siro.

This World Cup will be Mariani's first major international tournament. Away from football, he also serves as a sailor in Italy's merchant navy.

Assistants and VAR panel

Mariani will be supported on the touchline by fellow Italians Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni as his assistant referees. Drew Thomas Fischer of Canada takes up the role of fourth official at Miami Stadium.

Italian Marco Di Bello heads the VAR operation, with Croatia's Ivan Bebek assisting him in the video review booth.

Pink flamingo kits on show

The officiating team will wear eye-catching flamingo pink shirts for the match — a deliberate tribute to their host city of Miami, where the squad are based for approximately two months during the tournament.

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