France and Iraq meet at Lincoln Financial Field (called Philadelphia Stadium for the tournament) in Philadelphia in a key Group I clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The game kicks off at 5 p.m. ET.

Les Bleus opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, while Iraq suffered a 4-1 defeat to Norway and know they likely need a result to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds alive. France, meanwhile, can take a major step toward qualification with another three points.

With the match set to draw plenty of attention, FIFA has appointed one of CONCACAF’s most experienced officials to take charge.

Who is the referee for France vs Iraq?

Canadian referee Drew Fischer will oversee Monday’s Group I encounter between France and Iraq. Fischer is joined by an officiating crew featuring fellow Canadians Michael Barwegen and Lyes Arfa as assistant referees. Swiss official Sandro Schärer will serve as fourth official, with Stéphane De Almeida acting as reserve assistant referee. American referee Joseph Dickerson has been assigned as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

France vs Iraq officiating team

Referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)

Assistant Referee 1: Michael Barwegen (Canada)

Assistant Referee 2: Lyes Arfa (Canada)

Fourth Official: Sandro Schärer (Switzerland)

Reserve Assistant Referee: Stéphane De Almeida (Switzerland)

VAR: Joseph Dickerson (United States)

Who is Drew Fischer?

Born in Calgary, Alberta, on July 10, 1980, Fischer began refereeing as a teenager and has worked professionally since 2007. He earned FIFA referee status in 2015 and has since become one of Canada’s most prominent officials. He also holds a degree in physics from the University of Calgary.

Over the course of his career, Fischer has officiated in Major League Soccer, the Canadian Championship, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, FIFA youth tournaments, World Cup qualifying matches and the FIFA Club World Cup. He was selected as a video match official for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar before being chosen as one of the referees for the 2026 tournament.

His résumé includes appearances at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, multiple Gold Cups, Concacaf Nations League matches and MLS Cup finals. He was also named MLS Referee of the Year in both 2024 and 2025.

Has Drew Fischer been involved in any major controversies?

Unlike some of the more high-profile officials at the World Cup, Fischer has largely avoided major international controversies during his career. He is generally regarded as one of CONCACAF’s most reliable referees, which is reflected in FIFA’s decision to include him among the 52 referees selected for the 2026 World Cup.

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