Uzbek referees appointed to World Cup Round of 16 match

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A refereeing crew from Uzbekistan has received a new assignment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Uzbekistan Football Association announced.

The Round of 16 match between the national teams of Paraguay and France will be officiated by a refereeing team led by head referee Ilgiz Tantashev. Andrey Tsapenko and Timur Gaynullin have been appointed as assistant referees.

The match is scheduled to take place on 4 July 2026 in Philadelphia. The opening whistle will sound at 02:00 on 5 July Tashkent time.

According to the Uzbekistan Football Association, the match will be held as part of events commemorating the 250th anniversary of United States independence. High-ranking government officials are expected to attend the game.