Argentina’s Nestor Pitana has been relegated as the arbitrator for the Opening Match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ amongst Russia and Saudi Arabia on Thursday 12 June at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. He will be helped by comrades Juan Pablo Bellati and Hernan Maidana, with Sandro Ricci from Brazil assigned as the fourth official.
The Video Assistant Referee group is made by Massimiliano Irrati out of Italy (VAR); Mauro Vigliano of Argentina (AVAR 1); Carlos Astroza of Chile (AVAR2) and Daniele Orsato, Italy (AVAR3).
Nestor Pitana is set to wind up the second Argentinian arbitrator to take an interest in two World Cups after Norberto Coerezza, who regulated two amusements in 1970 and one out of 1978. Pitana is one of South America’s most experienced officials. He made his introduction in the Argentinian group in 2007 and directed his first universal match in 2010. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, he administered four apparatuses incorporating France-Germany in the quarterfinals.