Mariani to referee Colombia vs DR Congo in World Cup 2026 Group K decider

Maurizio Mariani will referee Colombia’s World Cup 2026 Group K match against DR Congo at Guadalajara Stadium, with Colombia requiring a win to reclaim top spot in the group following Portugal’s result against Uzbekistan.

Mariani is a Serie A official who earned FIFA international status in 2019 and was promoted to the UEFA Elite category in 2024. He has already officiated one match at this tournament — a 1-1 draw between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, in which he issued just a single yellow card.

Over the past 12 months, Mariani has taken charge of 32 games across all competitions, averaging 3.34 yellow cards per game. He has shown only two red cards in that period, suggesting a relatively lenient approach compared to his career averages of 4.25 yellows and 0.25 reds per game.

Most recently, Mariani was the referee for the UEFA Conference League final, where Crystal Palace defeated Rayo Vallecano.

Assisting Mariani on the touchlines will be fellow Italians Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni. Juan Calderon of Costa Rica serves as the fourth official, with Juan Mora on reserve should he be needed on the field.

Colombia arrive into the fixture with momentum, having opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. DR Congo represent a sterner challenge, however, and the result will have significant implications for the shape of Group K.