The referee appointments for the upcoming match between the Azerbaijan national team and Saint Lucia, scheduled for March 27 as part of the FIFA Series 2026 international tournament, have been announced.
The match, which will take place at the Mehdi Huseynzade Sumgait City Stadium, will be officiated by a crew of referees from Georgia. According to official reports, Giorgi Kruashvili has been appointed as the head referee for the encounter. He will be assisted by linesmen Levan Varamishvili and Giorgi Elikashvili, while Koba Revazashvili will serve as the fourth official. The kickoff is scheduled for 19:00 local time in Sumgait.
This fixture is part of the inaugural FIFA Series, a new initiative by football's global governing body to facilitate more inter-confederation friendly matches. The series provides national teams with the opportunity to compete against opponents from different continents, fostering international development and technical exchange. For Azerbaijan, hosting the event in Sumgait highlights the expansion of modern sports infrastructure beyond the capital, Baku, utilizing the recently renovated Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium.
The FIFA Series 2026 serves as a crucial preparation phase for participating nations ahead of official continental qualifiers. By bringing together teams that do not regularly face each other, FIFA aims to enhance the competitive balance of global football. The match in Azerbaijan is expected to draw significant local interest as the national team seeks to capitalize on home-field advantage under the guidance of the international officiating team.
