Who is the referee for Tunisia vs Japan?

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 08: Referee Istvan Kovacs gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and Club Atlético de Madrid at Camp Nou
The referee for Tunisia vs Japan has been confirmed (Image credit: Getty Images)

Tunisia are the only side to not clinch a point so far in Group F, and will be looking to correct that when they face Japan.

Samurai Blue will also be looking to post their first win of the tournament, following a draw in their opener to Netherlands.

There’s plenty riding on this one, then – and we know who’ll be running the operation from the centre.

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STADIO OLIMPICO, ROMA, ITALY - 2026/03/19: Referee Istvan Kovacs during the UEFA Europa League 2025/2026 football match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909. Bologna won 4-3 over Roma after extra times

Istvan Kovacs is an extremely experienced referee (Image credit: Getty Images)

The game, set to be held in Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, is set to be officiated by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs.

The 41-year-old has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2010 and a UEFA elite referee since 2019.

Barcelona, Spain - April 8: The referee Istvan Kovacs with FC Barcelona players during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and Club Atlético de Madrid

Kovacs also reffed an all-La Liga quarter-final clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid this year (Image credit: Getty Images)

He has taken charge of some top-level games, including the 2022 Champions League semi-final clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium.

Kovacs was also the official in charge of the first-ever Conference League final between Roma and Feyenoord that same year.

The Romanian has also done stints as a fourth official, taking this role for eight games in the 2022 World Cup, despite not being chosen to lead a match on that occasion.

He was on the sidelines for the 2023 Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter in 2023, and took centre stage two years later, in what is probably his biggest appointment to date, the final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.

Two fellow Romanians join him running the line, in Mihai Marius Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi, while the fourth official will be Juan Gabriel Calderon, with Juan Carlos Mora on standby.

SAN NICOLAS DE LOS GARZA, MEXICO - APRIL 8: Referee Juan Gabriel Calderon looks on during the Quarter-Final First Leg round match between Tigres UANL and Seattle Sounders of the CONCACAF Champions Cup

Juan Gabriel Calderon is the fourth official for this one (Image credit: Getty Images)

The main video assistant referee is Swiss official Fedayi San.

He works in the Swiss Super League most prominently, and has been registered as a VAR since 2015.

He’s joined by assistant Joe Dickerson, from the United States, and German support video assistant referee Bastian Dankert.

Isaac Stacey Stronge
Freelance Writer

Isaac Stacey Stronge is a freelance football writer working for FourFourTwo, Manchester United and Football League World. He has been a season ticket holder at Stockport County throughout the Hatters’ meteoric rise from the National League North to League One and is a die-hard Paddy Madden fan.

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