Alireza Faghani appointed to referee 2026 Australia Cup final

Football Australia has announced the officiating team for the 2026 Australia Cup final between Melbourne Victory and South Melbourne FC, to be held at AAMI Park. Alireza Faghani has been appointed as the lead match official, marking his first Australia Cup final appearance. Faghani brings significant international experience, having officiated at the 2016 Olympic Men’s Football Final and the 2018 FIFA World Cup third-place play-off.

Faghani will be supported by assistant referees Luke Gennimatas and Claire Green, with Caitlin Williams serving as the fourth official. The match will also feature the first-ever use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the competition's history. Shaun Evans will serve as the VAR, supported by Maddy Allum as the Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR).

Jon Moss, Football Australia Head of Refereeing, stated that Faghani’s appointment recognizes his professionalism and experience at the highest levels of world football. Moss also noted that the introduction of VAR represents a significant step for the competition.