Ref Faghani: 'The noise was unbelievable' in Mexico-England World Cup tie

TL;DR Referee Alireza Faghani has shared his perspective on the Mexico v England last-16 World Cup match, describing the atmosphere at the Estadio Azteca as "unbelievable."

Key Points - Faghani, a 48-year-old Australian-Iranian, refereed the last-16 tie at the 2026 World Cup. - England manager Thomas Tuchel criticized the officiating as "just not good enough." - The match took place at the Estadio Azteca, which holds nearly 90,000 fans. - Mexico had not lost a competitive game at the Azteca since 2013.

What We Know According to an exclusive report by The Guardian Football, Faghani was asleep in the locker room before the match, hearing the muffled roar of the crowd through the concrete walls. The venue is located 2,240 metres above sea level, creating challenging conditions for visiting teams due to lower oxygen levels. Faghani’s comments serve as a direct response to the post-match criticism from England’s staff.

Why It Matters This incident highlights the intense pressure and unique environmental challenges referees face at iconic venues like the Azteca. The exchange between the referee and England’s management adds a layer of controversy to the World Cup campaign, drawing attention to the subjective nature of officiating in high-stakes, high-pressure environments.

What Happens Next It is speculated that FIFA may review match reports or officiating standards following such public disputes, though no formal inquiry has been confirmed.