FIFA have confirmed Argentinian referee Yael Falcon as the man in the middle for the Group A clash between Czech Republic and Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm local time (2am UK time).

The fixture carries very different stakes for each side. Mexico, co-hosts of this World Cup, have not only secured their place in the round of 32 — they are already guaranteed to advance as group winners. Czech Republic, however, face a far more pressing situation: only a victory is realistically likely to be enough for them to advance alongside their opponents.

Falcon's credentials

At 37 years old, Falcon has risen through the officiating ranks at remarkable speed since taking up refereeing in 2017. Last month, he handled the Torneo Apertura final in Argentina, where Belgrano defeated River Plate 3-2 to claim the championship title.

This World Cup assignment marks his second match of the tournament. His first was Sweden's commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia.

Full officiating team

Two fellow Argentinians, Maximilliano Del Yesso and Facundo Rodriguez, will serve as assistant referees on the lines. The fourth official will be Chilean Cristian Garay, with compatriot Jose Retamal taking the reserve assistant referee role. VAR appointments for the match have not yet been announced by FIFA.