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The World Cup has now reached its knockout stage, and co-hosts USA are set to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32.

USA have enjoyed a strong run so far in the tournament, securing victories in their first two group matches against Paraguay and Australia. Although they suffered a late defeat to Turkey in their last group game, they still managed to top their group comfortably.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, meanwhile, advanced to the knockout rounds after finishing third in their group. They began with a 3-1 win over Qatar, followed by a 4-1 loss to Switzerland. A 1-1 draw with Canada in their final match proved sufficient to see them through to the next round.

FIFA has officially announced the team of eight match officials who will oversee the USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina encounter, with Raphael Claus appointed as the main referee for the contest.

The 46-year-old Brazilian referee, Raphael Claus, has been part of the FIFA refereeing panel since 2015 and is widely recognised as one of South America’s leading officials. He has a strong track record in major international tournaments and is known for his firm yet composed officiating style.

Claus recently officiated the 2024 Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia and is a familiar face in the Copa Libertadores, where he has previously taken charge of high-profile fixtures, including a fiery semi-final clash between River Plate and Boca Juniors.

This will be Claus’s second match of the current World Cup campaign, having previously refereed Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia during the group stage. In the 2022 edition of the tournament, he was also in charge of England’s 6-2 victory against Iran — a match notable for a controversial late penalty awarded to Iran — as well as Morocco’s 2-1 win over Canada.

Supporting Claus on the sidelines will be two Brazilian assistant referees: Danilo Manis and Rodrigo Figueiredo, both of whom have extensive experience at international level.

Argentina’s Dario Herrera will act as the fourth official for the fixture, overseeing the technical areas and managing substitutions.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) responsibilities will be handled by Venezuelan official Juan Soto, with Colombian Nicolas Gallo serving as the Assistant VAR. Soto and Gallo will work together to review key incidents and ensure the accuracy of on-field decisions throughout the match.

For those curious about the distinction between the two roles: the Assistant VAR assists in decision-making by examining specific incidents, while the Support VAR coordinates communication and monitors the live feed during checks. It’s a detail worth remembering for your next discussion about football officiating.

Bosnia-Herzegovina have had a mixed campaign so far, but they will look to pull off a major upset against one of the tournament’s co-hosts. USA, on the other hand, will aim to continue their impressive form and secure a place in the Round of 16.