Why the Referee for Tunisia – Japan is Wearing a Special Orange Shirt
June 19, 2026 · Manuela Fernández
Referee Istvan Kovacs will don a special orange kit during the World Cup match between Tunisia and Japan, as it marks the 1,000th match in World Cup history. FIFA is celebrating this milestone with a unique shirt for the referee and his assistants.
Following the match between the Netherlands and Sweden on Saturday evening, group rivals Tunisia and Japan will square off on Sunday morning at 6:00 AM. Referee Istvan Kovacs will wear a special orange kit for this match, which is significant for a particular milestone.
The encounter between Tunisia and Japan will be the 1,000th match ever played in a World Cup tournament, a fact that FIFA is keen to celebrate. In Monterrey, Mexico, Romanian referee Kovacs will sport a special referee shirt featuring orange with golden stripes and a badge reading 'Match 1.000' on the left sleeve.
Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of FIFA's referees committee, unveiled the special shirt on Thursday. "Being a referee for such a remarkable match deserves something unique," said the former top referee. Kovacs's assistants will also be given special kits for this landmark match.
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