After Mexico took centre stage on Thursday, it is now Canada’s turn to showcase themselves as World Cup hosts on Friday.

The co-host nation will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at the BMO Field in Toronto, with the match scheduled to kick off at 3 pm local time (8 pm UK time).

The match officials for Canada’s World Cup opener have been confirmed, and fans will recognise a familiar name in charge of proceedings — Facundo Tello.

Facundo Tello, a highly experienced referee from Argentina, will oversee the Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina game. Tello has previously officiated at both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, making him one of the few referees to have experience in both major international tournaments.

His inclusion at Euro 2024 was somewhat unusual, as he is not European. Tello and his assistant referees all hail from Argentina, representing South America in a European competition.

The 44-year-old Tello has been a regular presence in Argentina’s top division for more than ten years. One of his most notable matches came in the Champions Trophy final between Boca Juniors and Racing Club, where he famously issued ten red cards during a heated encounter.

However, that match was an exception rather than the rule. So far this season, Tello has officiated 14 matches across all competitions, showing only two red cards (an average of 0.14 per game), one of which resulted from a second yellow card. He has also issued 67 yellow cards, averaging 4.78 per game.

It is worth mentioning that Argentina’s domestic league is known for its intensity, but Tello’s approach in international fixtures has typically been more measured and composed.

At Euro 2024, Tello did not produce a single red card across his two matches, although he did hand out nine yellow cards. Similarly, during the South American section of World Cup qualifying, he managed seven matches without any dismissals, issuing a total of 26 yellow cards.

In the 2022 World Cup, Tello took charge of three matches. The only sending-off he made during the tournament was a second yellow card shown to Morocco’s Walid Cheddira during their quarter-final win against Portugal.

Supporting Tello in the Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina fixture will be a team of experienced officials. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) lead will be Hernan Mastrangelo, also from Argentina. He will be assisted by Antonio Garcia of Uruguay and Tatiana Guzman from Nicaragua.

The fourth official and reserve assistant referee will both come from Saudi Arabia — Khalif Alturais and Mohammed Alabakry, respectively.

With his extensive international experience and reputation for composure under pressure, Facundo Tello appears well-prepared to handle what promises to be a competitive and spirited contest in Toronto.