Michael Oliver cleared to referee Netherlands vs Sweden after World Cup injury scare

Michael Oliver will referee the 2026 World Cup Group F match between the Netherlands and Sweden in Houston on Saturday, FIFA has confirmed, after the Premier League official was forced to withdraw from his opening tournament assignment last week through injury.

Oliver had been scheduled to oversee the Ecuador vs Ivory Coast fixture but was replaced at short notice by French referee François Letexier. FIFA subsequently indicated the injury was not serious, stating he would be available for selection again “in the coming days” — and he has now been handed the Netherlands-Sweden tie at Houston Stadium, kicking off at 6pm local time.

He will be supported by fellow Premier League officials Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring on the lines, with South African officials Abongile Tom and Zakhele Siwela serving as fourth official and reserve assistant referee respectively.

Oliver is no stranger to major tournament football. He was appointed for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he took charge of the quarter-final between Croatia and Brazil — one of the most high-profile matches of that tournament.

He is one of six English on-field officials at this year’s World Cup, alongside fellow referee Anthony Taylor, who is set to oversee the Group stage clash between Uzbekistan and Colombia at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.