Ref for England-Mexico match once had an 800,000-signature petition call for his suspension

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It's hard to imagine a more difficult stage to be a referee than this.

Mexico is playing at home in the Round of 16 at the World Cup, at El Estadio Azteca, high in the altitude of Mexico City. England visits for a marquee matchup, and everyone will be watching.

How do you make the right calls in that environment?

How does the stage not get too big to handle?

That's what the refereeing crew on Sunday night will have to answer.

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Who is the England-Mexico ref?

Alireza Faghani is the referee for the England-Mexico match. He'll be the main on the middle of the pitch with the whistle.

He's from Iran but now represents Australia after moving there seven years ago.

His biggest controversy came in the 2023 Asian Cup, when he sent off an Iraqi striker with a second yellow card, which was given for mimicking an opposing goal celebration.

A petition by Iraq's fans got more than 800,000 signatures in an effort to get Faghani suspended, but the Asian Football Confederation ruled that he had made the right call.

Faghani first officiated a World Cup in 2018, so he's a trusted match official for FIFA.