ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – On Friday, FIFA announced that Jair Marrufo of the United States has been appointed as the head referee for Saturday’s 2018 FIFA Club World Cup Final between reigning world champions Real Madrid and host Al Ain at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Marrufo becomes the sixth different Concacaf referee to officiate a FIFA Club World Cup Final.
The 41-year-old from El Paso, Texas, was named the 2008 Major League Soccer Referee of the Year and has officiated in four different Concacaf Gold Cups (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015).
Fellow Concacaf referees Frank Anderson (United States) and Corey Rockwell (United States) will serve as assistant referees to Marrufo, while Danny Makkelie of the Netherlands will work as the Video Assistant Referee.
Marrufo is the first ever referee from the Unites States to officiate a FIFA Club World Cup Final, and follows in the footsteps of Cesar Arturo Ramos (Mexico, 2017), Walter Lopez (Guatemala, 2014), Benito Archundia (Mexico, 2005 and 2009), Marco Rodriguez (Mexico, 2007) and Carlos Batres (Guatemala, 2006) as Concacaf referees to have been appointed to a FIFA Club World Cup Final.
