Tunisia remain the only team yet to earn a point in Group F and will be eager to change that when they take on Japan in their upcoming fixture.

The Samurai Blue, meanwhile, are also seeking their first victory of the tournament after drawing their opening match against the Netherlands.

With both sides desperate for a result, the match carries significant importance — and it’s now been confirmed who will be in charge at the centre.

The encounter, scheduled to take place at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, will be officiated by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs.

The 41-year-old has been part of the FIFA referees' list since 2010 and was promoted to UEFA’s elite referee category in 2019.

Kovacs previously officiated an all-La Liga quarter-final this year between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, showcasing his experience at the highest level.

He also took charge of the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League final between Roma and Feyenoord, a landmark moment in his refereeing career.

In addition to his on-field duties, the Romanian has served as a fourth official on several major occasions, including eight matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, although he did not lead any matches in that tournament.

Kovacs was a fourth official during the 2023 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan, and later took the main referee role in the 2025 final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan — arguably the most significant appointment of his career to date.

He will be assisted by two compatriots, Mihai Marius Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi, who will run the lines. The fourth official for the match will be Juan Gabriel Calderon, with Juan Carlos Mora serving as the standby official.

The video assistant referee (VAR) duties will be handled by Swiss official Fedayi San, a regular in the Swiss Super League and registered as a VAR since 2015.

Assisting him will be Joe Dickerson from the United States and German official Bastian Dankert, who will provide additional VAR support.