Who is the referee for Mexico vs Poland in the World Cup 2022 group stage first game?
The second Group C clash on Tuesday sees Mexico face Robert Lewandowski’s Poland at Stadium 974.
The second Group C game on Tuesday will see Mexico and Poland going head-to-head at Stadium 974 in Doha.
El Tri will be playing their 17th World Cup and this time Gerardo Martino’s men will not only try to get a ticket to the knockout rounds but break that round of 16 barrier and advance to the quarter finals for the first time since 1986.
Their opponents Poland will also be taking the World Cup held that year in Mexico as a reference since that was the last time they managed to make it to the qualifying rounds.
Martino: ‘Poland clash will be crucial’
It’s no secret that the Mexico vs Poland result will have a huge impact on the options of both teams to get a spot to the next round of the World Cup.
El Tri’s coach Gerardo Martino admitted that the team will be seeking to improve their previous seven tournament performances which have seen them eliminated in the round of 16 on each occasion.
Mexico go into the match with an optimistic stat, as they have won their opening group game in five of the last six World Cups and they have not lost an opening group clash on the biggest stage since 1994.
“We are expecting to play our three group stage matches the same way. That will depend on the rival’s game plan, too. Tomorrow’s match is going to be crucial for us”, Martino admitted.
Mexico lost their only previous World Cup meeting against Poland (3-1) in the group stage of the 1978 edition.
After playing against Poland, the Mexicans will take on Argentina on Saturday before facing Saudi Arabia in their final Group C fixture on November 30.
Mexico-Poland match official
Today’s clash at Stadium 974 will be overseen by Australian referee Chris Beath.
Beath has been an international match official since 2011 and was appointed as one of the inaugural video assistant referees (VAR) in 2017 in the Hyundai A-League, the first top-tier football league in the world to implement the technology.
Beath’s highest international profile game was the Brazil vs Spain gold medal match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He also officiated the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup Final between Chelsea F.C. and Palmeiras.
The Australian official will be supported by Anton Schetinin and Assistant Referee (2) Ashley Beecham with Fourth Official set to be Stéphanie Frappart.