Who is the referee for Croatia vs Brazil at World Cup 2022?

Referee Michael Oliver gestures during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.
(Image credit: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

FourFourTwo imagines that taking charge of the World Cup 2022 quarter-final between Croatia and Brazil will be no easy job – and FIFA have brought out one of their best referees for the task.

England's Michael Oliver has been appointed to the first tie of the last eight in Qatar, which is being played on Friday afternoon.

One of the Premier League's top whistle-blowers, Oliver is used to keeping a lid on some of the biggest fixtures around – both domestically and in the Champions League. That should stand him in good stead for this crunch clash.

The 37-year-old has already been in the middle for two games at this World Cup: Costa Rica's 1-0 win over Japan and Saudi Arabia's 2-1 victory against Mexico, both in the group stage.

This is Oliver's first World Cup, but he did referee three matches at last year's Euros – including Spain vs Switzerland in the quarter-finals. He was also on duty for the 2016 League Cup final, and the 2018 and 2021 FA Cup finals.

Fellow Englishman Anthony Taylor has also been involved at Qatar 2022, although he hasn't been selected for any of the quarter-finals.

Tom Hancock

Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...