Brazil and Japan meet in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, with a place in the last 16 on the line. The game brings together Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil and a Japan side looking to spring one of the major surprises of the knockout stage.

FIFA has named the referee for the Brazil vs Japan match as Maurizio Mariani.

Who are the officials for the Brazil vs Japan game?

The Italian official will be assisted by Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni, while Sandro Schärer of Switzerland has been named as the fourth official. Fellow Italian Marco Di Bello is the VAR referee.

Mariani is the only Italian referee selected for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with compatriot Marco Di Bello part of the VAR group at the tournament.

This will be Mariani’s third assignment at the competition. He previously took charge of the 1-1 draw between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, as well as Colombia’s 1-0 win over DR Congo.

Who is Maurizio Mariani?

Mariani was born in Rome on February 25, 1982, and is one of Italy’s leading officials. He has refereed in Serie A for several years, became a FIFA-listed referee in 2019 and was promoted to UEFA’s elite category in 2024.

He began refereeing in youth soccer in 2000 and worked his way through the Italian system, reaching Serie D in 2007, Serie C in 2009 and Serie B in 2011. He was promoted to Serie A in 2013 and became an established top-flight referee in the years that followed.

Mariani has since taken charge of some of the biggest domestic fixtures in Italy, including the Derby della Madonnina between Inter Milan and AC Milan.

His international profile has also grown in recent years. He worked as a VAR official at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and was selected by CONMEBOL for the 2024 Copa América as part of the referee exchange program with UEFA.

In 2025, Mariani refereed the Coppa Italia final between AC Milan and Bologna and was assigned to the FIFA U-20 World Cup final between Argentina and Morocco.

Most recently, UEFA appointed him to referee the 2026 Conference League final between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, a match Palace won 1-0.

Has Mariani ever been involved in controversy

Mariani has not been without controversy. He came under criticism for his handling of a heated Napoli vs Inter Milan game in Serie A, with his decisions scrutinized after a disputed penalty and other major incidents. However, he remains one of UEFA and FIFA’s highest-rated Italian officials, and now takes charge of one of the standout games in the World Cup round of 32.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.