Referee Szymon Marciniak says another World Cup final is almost impossible

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who officiated the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, will take part in his third tournament when the 2026 World Cup begins in the United States, Canada and Mexico on 11 June. He is one of 52 main referees selected for the 48‑team event and leads a Polish officiating team that includes assistants Tomasz Listkiewicz, Adam Kupsik and VAR official Tomasz Kwiatkowski.

Marciniak, 45, said that reaching another final would be "almost impossible" despite his experience. He highlighted recent health problems that required surgery and a period of rehabilitation in the 2025/26 season, but confirmed that he now feels fully fit and can cover fast matches of up to 12.5 km. The referee and his team arrived in the United States on 31 May to prepare for the tournament and plan to stay on the schedule at least until 12‑14 July, when the semifinals and final are scheduled.

He emphasized that he is not making specific plans for the final and will focus on delivering good performances in any match he is assigned.