Match 2: KOR : CZE - OMAR (EGY)

[#FIFAWorldCup2026]🇰🇷 Corea del Sur vs Chequia 🇨🇿 A: Amin Mohamed 🇪🇬A1: Mahmoud Abouelregal 🇪🇬A2: Ahmed Hossam Taha 🇪🇬4to: Juan Calderon 🇨🇷5to: Juan Carlos Mora 🇨🇷 VAR: Mahmoud Ashour 🇪🇬AVAR: Joe Dickerson 🇺🇸SVAR: Marco Di Bello 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/DKqVwylyDb— ArbitroInternacional (@ArbitroInteBlog) June 8, 2026

I think we are overthinking the appointment for Joe. Even at the World Cup, they need bodies. As an old SYRA said to me when I ask him why he was taking certain people to regionals, he said "somebody has to the run lines." Somebody has to be AVAR. It's not like he wasn't going to work as an AVAR. Yes, it's better to get an assignment earlier than later. It's pretty difficult to screw up as AVAR, unless you miss an act of violent conduct during an OFR or delay by the VAR.

Stupid Q: Is 5to (so Juan Carlos Mora here) just a replacement in case one of the 4 officials get injured during/pre match or are there additional responsibilities for WC matches that aren't at other matches?He's a backup assistant referee. FIFA has been assigning these at their tournaments for a long time now. Other competitions have followed suit. In theory, the role is limited to being a reserve assistant in case one gets injured. In practice, he'll help with preparing substitutions, policing the technical areas if things get particularly heated (and likely policing one of the two technical areas during hydration breaks), and helping to facilitate any VAR reviews. In the event of some gross misconduct, his eyes and reporting would matter, but that type of thing would be exceedingly rare.

Stupid Q: Is 5to (so Juan Carlos Mora here) just a replacement in case one of the 4 officials get injured during/pre match or are there additional responsibilities for WC matches that aren't at other matches?

Joe as AVAR a good sign?I mean, I wouldn't say it's good or bad. This is not a big match (it's between two relatively weak teams, it's in the middle of the European night, and it's overshadowed by the hosts' openers). And AVAR is not a big position. Good that he's getting an appointment but it doesn't give some special indication that they have big plans for him.

I'm sure he wishes he was somewhere else, too... He's 38 but than he has to compete with Szpala, Mendoza and Vasquez.Little confused by this. He's a guy who wasn't even on the FIFA or CONCACAF radar 18 months ago and now he's at a World Cup and, at the moment, in pole position to have a whistle in 2030. That's quite a rise. Also, AVAR isn't a big thing relatively speaking but if you're talking about getting a bunch of matches and being actively involved in a World Cup, way better to be involved in the first literal matchday than wait to get a call early in MD2. FIFA has shown they use their VMOs until they feel like they've screwed up. Dickerson has an opportunity to not screw up and get more games and more responsibility. I would imagine he's very excited about this appointment.

I'm sure he wishes he was somewhere else, too... He's 38 but than he has to compete with Szpala, Mendoza and Vasquez.Dickerson is 38 already?? My word time flies.

Joe as AVAR a good sign?

I mean, I wouldn't say it's good or bad. This is not a big match (it's between two relatively weak teams, it's in the middle of the European night, and it's overshadowed by the hosts' openers). And AVAR is not a big position. Good that he's getting an appointment but it doesn't give some special indication that they have big plans for him.I'm sure he wishes he was somewhere else, too... He's 38 but than he has to compete with Szpala, Mendoza and Vasquez.