Mark Geiger will have an opportunity to officiate at Russia 2018. (Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports)
The United States might not be playing in the World Cup in Russia this June and July, but three Americans will participate in the event.
FIFA Thursday named Mark Geiger and Jair Marrufo as referees for Russia 2018 and Frank Anderson and Corey Rockwell as assistant referees.
They were among 36 referees and 63 assistant referees appointed as match officials by the FIFA referees committee.
The choice of the final group of match officials selected to officiate in Russia was based on each referee’s skills and personality, as well as his level of understanding of soccer and the ability to read the game and the various tactics employed by teams.
The 99 game officials will attend a two-week seminar for two weeks in the second half of April at the technical centre of the Italian Football Association in Coverciano, Italy. The officials will be divided into two groups, which will also include video assistant referee (VAR) candidates.