Felix Zwayer to referee USA vs Australia despite past match-fixing ban at World Cup 2026

Germany’s Felix Zwayer will referee the United States vs Australia Group D match at Lumen Field in Seattle on Wednesday, his first on-field assignment as a World Cup referee — despite a controversial chapter early in his career that saw him serve a six-month ban.

Zwayer, 45, began officiating in 2004 but was drawn into a match-fixing scandal just a year into his career. He was alleged to have accepted a €300 bribe before reporting the colleague at the centre of the scheme. Following the six-month suspension, Zwayer rebuilt his reputation to become one of Germany’s most respected officials.

His subsequent record speaks to that rehabilitation. Zwayer served as a VAR official at the 2018 World Cup and has since taken charge of high-profile fixtures including last year’s Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham, and England’s Euro 2024 semi-final victory over the Netherlands.

Both the United States and Australia arrive in Seattle having won their opening Group D games. The co-host Americans beat Paraguay 4-1, while the Socceroos defeated Turkiye 2-0, meaning Wednesday’s match will determine who leads the group at the halfway stage.

Zwayer will be assisted by fellow Germans Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz as linesmen. Mexico’s Katia Itzel Garcia serves as fourth official, with compatriot Sandra Ramirez as the reserve. Germany’s Bastian Dankert leads the VAR operation, supported by Morocco’s Hamza El Fariq and Belgium’s Bram Van Driessche.