Lyes Arfa

Lyes Arfa
Born (1982-03-03) March 3, 1982 (age 44)
Moscow, Russia
Domestic
Years League Role
2020– Major League Soccer Assistant Referee
International
Years League Role
2021– FIFA Referee

Lyes Arfa (born June 12, 1986) is a Canadian football assistant referee who has been listed on the FIFA International Referees List since 2021.

Arfa was born in Moscow, Russia, but grew up in Bejaia, Algeria. He is the older brother of Olympic fencer Fares Arfa.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Lyes Arfa was selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, becoming part of the the first all-Canadian referee crew to officiate a men's World Cup alongside Drew Fischer and Michael Barwegen.

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA 2022 Refereeing International Lists" (PDF). FIFA. FIFA.com. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Lyes Arfa". Canada Soccer. CanadaSoccer.com. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Deshaies, Antoine (June 12, 2026). "Lyes Arfa, le notaire arbitre à la Coupe du monde". Radio Canada (in French). radio-canada.ca. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "World Cup 2026: First all-Canadian officiating crew makes history". VOV5.VN. Retrieved 2026-07-11.