The appointment ends a lengthy drought for Chilean officiating and gives one referee a long-awaited chance on soccer’s biggest stage.
Who is Cristián Garay, referee for Canada vs Qatar in World Cup 2026?
The Chilean refereeing community secured a major international milestone after FIFA confirmed the officiating appointments for the second round of group-stage games at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Among the selections was Chilean referee Cristián Garay, who will take charge of one of Thursday’s most intriguing matchups.
The 36-year-old official has been appointed to oversee the Group B encounter between Canada and Qatar at BC Place in Vancouver. Scheduled for Thursday, June 18, the game will mark Garay’s first appearance as a referee at a senior FIFA World Cup, a significant achievement in his career.
The end of a 12-year wait for Chilean refereeing
Garay’s appointment is a landmark moment for Chilean officiating, ending a lengthy absence from the most prominent referee assignments at the World Cup.
The last Chilean referee to serve as the central official in a World Cup game was Enrique Osses at the 2014 tournament in Brazil. During that competition, Osses was assigned to two group-stage games, including Ivory Coast’s 2-1 victory over Japan in Recife and Costa Rica’s memorable 1-0 win over Italy at Arena Pernambuco.
Since then, no Chilean referee had been selected to lead a World Cup game from the center of the field, making Garay’s appointment a significant breakthrough for the country’s officials.
An all-Chilean officiating crew in Vancouver
FIFA also confirmed that Garay will be supported by a fully Chilean team of assistants, ensuring familiarity and cohesion for the high-profile assignment in front of what is expected to be a partisan Canadian crowd.
The officiating crew for Canada vs Qatar will consist of:
| Position | Official | World Cup Status |
|---|---|---|
| Referee | Cristián Garay | Senior World Cup debut |
| Assistant Referee No. 1 | José Retamal | First FIFA World Cup assignment |
| Assistant Referee No. 2 | Miguel Rocha | First FIFA World Cup assignment |
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