2026 MLS Match Day 12 Referee Assignments

Discussion in 'MLS Referee Forum' started by ManiacalClown, May 6, 2026.

  1. ManiacalClown

    ManiacalClown Member+

    Jun 27, 2003
    Greater Pittsburgh
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    05/09/2026

    Toronto FC vs Inter Miami
    BMO Field (1PM ET)
    REF: Victor Rivas
    AR1: Corey Rockwell
    AR2: Stephen McGonagle
    4TH: Filip Dujic
    VAR: Geoff Gamble
    AVAR: Claudiu Badea

    Chicago Fire vs Red Bull New York
    Soldier Field (2:30PM ET)
    REF: Allen Chapman
    AR1: Micheal Barwegen
    AR2: Gianni Facchini
    4TH: Sergii Boiko
    VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
    AVAR: Tom Supple

    CF Montréal vs Orlando City
    Stade Saputo (4:30PM ET)
    REF: Marcos DeOliveira II
    AR1: Jeffrey Greeson
    AR2: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt
    4TH: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
    VAR: David Barrie
    AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert

    Atlanta United vs LA Galaxy
    Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30PM ET)
    REF: Fotis Bazakos
    AR1: Jeff Swartzel
    AR2: Nick Balcer
    4TH: Sergii Demianchuk
    VAR: Kevin Terry Jr
    AVAR: Tom Felice

    Charlotte FC vs FC Cincinnati
    Bank of America Stadium (7:30PM ET)
    REF: Ismail Elfath
    AR1: Corey Parker
    AR2: Kyle Atkins
    4TH: Jair Marrufo
    VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
    AVAR: Tom Supple

    New England Revolution vs Philadelphia Union
    Gillette Stadium (7:30PM ET)
    REF: Tori Penso
    AR1: Brooke Mayo
    AR2: Kathryn Nesbitt
    4TH: Edson Carvajal
    VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
    AVAR: TJ Zablocki

    FC Dallas vs Real Salt Lake
    Toyota Stadium (8:30PM ET)
    REF: Joe Dickerson
    AR1: Jeremy Kieso
    AR2: Logan Brown
    4TH: Lorenzo Hernandez
    VAR: Geoff Gamble
    AVAR: Zeno Cho - 1st AVAR

    Nashville vs D.C. United
    GEODIS Park (9:15PM ET)
    REF: Joshua Encarnacion
    AR1: Jeremy Hanson
    AR2: Ian McKay
    4TH: Rosendo Mendoza
    VAR: Lukasz Szpala
    AVAR: Robert Schaap

    Colorado Rapids vs St Louis CITY
    Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (9:30PM ET)
    REF: Timothy Ford - 100th whistle
    AR1: Brian Dunn
    AR2: Walt Heatherly
    4TH: Alexis Da Silva
    VAR: David Barrie
    AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert

    Portland Timbers vs Sporting Kansas City
    Providence Park (10:30PM ET)
    REF: Ramy Touchan
    AR1: Ryan Graves
    AR2: Kali Smith
    4TH: Ricardo Fierro
    VAR: Daniel Radford
    AVAR: Tom Felice

    San Jose Earthquakes vs Vancouver Whitecaps
    PayPal Park (10:30PM ET)
    REF: Malik Badawi
    AR1: Chris Elliott
    AR2: Meghan Mullen
    4TH: Jon Freemon
    VAR: Ismir Pekmic
    AVAR: TJ Zablocki

    Seattle Sounders vs San Diego
    Lumen Field (10:30PM ET)
    REF: Armando Villarreal
    AR1: Adam Garner
    AR2: Kevin Lock - 100th AR
    4TH: Elijio Arreguin
    VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
    AVAR: Claudiu Badea

    05/10/2026

    New York City FC vs Columbus Crew
    Yankee Stadium (4:30PM ET)
    REF: Rubiel Vazquez
    AR1: Nick Uranga
    AR2: Jose Da Silva
    4TH: Guido Gonzales Jr
    VAR: Ismir Pekmic
    AVAR: Craig Lowry

    Minnesota United vs Austin FC
    Allianz Field (7PM ET)
    REF: Chris Penso
    AR1: Chris Wattam
    AR2: Adam Wienckowski
    4TH: Carlos Rodriguez - MLS Debut
    VAR: Joe Dickerson
    AVAR: Jonathan Johnson

    Los Angeles FC vs Houston Dynamo
    BMO Stadium (9PM ET)
    REF: Drew Fischer
    AR1: Lyes Arfa
    AR2: Diego Blas
    4TH: Abdou Ndiaye
    VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
    AVAR: Craig Lowry
     
    AlextheRef repped this.
  2. ManiacalClown

    ManiacalClown Member+

    Jun 27, 2003
    Greater Pittsburgh
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Assignment changes

    SEA/SD
    VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr

    NYC/CLB
    4TH: Atahan Yaya
     
  3. ManiacalClown

    ManiacalClown Member+

    Jun 27, 2003
    Greater Pittsburgh
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Another change

    TOR/MIA
    AR2: Ben Pilgrim
     
  4. RedStar91

    RedStar91 Member+

    Sep 7, 2011
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    Anyone know what happened on one of Inter Miami's goals? Basically, Toronto had a defensive player down injured while their entire back line stepped up to midfield or close to it and Messi and Co basically cherry picked.

    Looked like Toronto wanted and expected play to be stopped.
     
  5. incognitoind

    incognitoind Member

    Apr 8, 2015
    Looks like you describe it accurately
     
  6. StarTime

    StarTime Member+

    United States
    Oct 18, 2020
    Amazing how teams are happy to play on as long as the ball is at their feet, yet “want and expect play to be stopped” as soon as they turn the ball over!

    Instead of questioning the referee, they should question the situational awareness of their defenders who were trying to hold an offside line 30 yards away from where the offside line actually was.
     
  7. StarTime

    StarTime Member+

    United States
    Oct 18, 2020
    Second yellow for DC that shifted the momentum of the game. The commentators keep going on about how “soft” the first yellow was, but I don’t mind it. If the charging action by the attacker was considered to be fair, there’s a clear secondary action by the defender’s leg to trip the attacker who has him beat.

    If anything the second yellow is more debatable. The challenge was late but I didn’t think it was really forceful enough to be 100% reckless, not necessarily a wrong call but it wasn’t a mandatory second yellow either.

    I would like to see if others agree or disagree with these analyses.
     
  8. StarTime

    StarTime Member+

    United States
    Oct 18, 2020
    Meanwhile in Colorado, Durkin leaving absolutely no doubts with his second yellow! (Could even talk about a straight red due to excessive force)
     
  9. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That one I thought was a straight red but at least a second yellow.

    The first red card of the match is a complete sales job by the St. Louis attacker though. Can't see why VAR didn't step in on it.
     
  10. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Also, going back to earlier conversations about how pool questions are answered.

    https://bsky.app/profile/braidonnourse.bsky.social/post/3mlhvzsw7ek2f
     
  11. socal lurker

    socal lurker Member+

    May 30, 2009
    And how long till all given cautions come under VAR auspices?….
     
  12. StarTime

    StarTime Member+

    United States
    Oct 18, 2020
    I was going back and forth watching this. The defender does squeeze and trap the opponents arm as he tries to pull away. So I can see that being supportable as a foul in a vacuum. But you could also argue that the attacker did a similar action to the defender a moment beforehand.

    Ultimately I think VAR should support the call on the field.
     
    JasonMa repped this.
  13. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLS in its infinite wisdom has only posted 3 videos for COL-STL, the goal, a one minute snapshot, and a longer highlights video. Luckily the 1 minute snapshot has just the goal and then the two red card incidents.

    https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/mat...767#match-snapshot-colorado-vs-st-louis-x4767

    I don't understand how the first red is a red but the second is only a second yellow card. I know @MassachusettsRef (I think) has pointed out that stopping the game to VAR a second yellow unto a red is pointless, and I agree, but if that's the standard they're using how does that not happen here? And that was far too soft a foul for the first red IMO. @StarTime pointed out that it could be red, but only if you ignore the attacker doing the same the defender does just a couple of seconds earlier.
     
  14. incognitoind

    incognitoind Member

    Apr 8, 2015
    You’re comparing two plays that are not even close to similar. The first red is for dogso and, if this is a foul, red is expected. You can’t say “it’s too soft for red” because a soft foul that denies an OGSO is red. If you don’t want red then you need to be arguing this isn’t a foul to begin with.

    and the second clip is a debate between reckless and excessive. The first red in no way sets a precedent for the second. There is definitely a lot of speed in the second but with no damning point of contact, I can certainly see how this rides the line of yellow vs red.
     
  15. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I didn't mean to suggest that I was comparing thee two fouls.. My bad if it came off that way. I just wanted to point out that both fouls had a question mark to them IMO.

    And yes, I'd argue that there was more no foul than a DOGSO on the first. If for no reason than there's no clear indication either player is going to control that bouncing ball in any way that would lead to an OGSO.
     
  16. MassachusettsRef

    MassachusettsRef Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 30, 2001
    Washington, DC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree with this mostly. I would just be stronger on the first card; that's absolutely mandatory and we don't get a great look at the mode/point of contact but it's not great. The announcers didn't say "soft," they harped on it not even being a foul! Incredible stuff.

    I would also say while the second one is more detabable on the merits and the attacker sells it, I think that's always just given so can't complain about the 2CT there.
     
  17. MassachusettsRef

    MassachusettsRef Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 30, 2001
    Washington, DC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    But that Ford shouldn't have made the call on the field?

    I'm all in favor of referees not punting big decisions to VAR, but this one didn't sit well with me for two reasons. One, I think the attacker really tries to buy and/or sell this foul. And he's doing so because I think he knows he absolutely does not actually have an OGSO on this bouncing ball. So I think Ford is fooled or conned in two different ways, sort of. It's a dubious foul to begin with. And then I think he has tunnel vision around DOGSO just due to the location on field and dearth of other defenders; I don't actually think this was DOGSO even if you say this is a foul. Of course, foul with no DOGSO would be pretty gutsy.
     
    JasonMa repped this.
  18. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  19. StarTime

    StarTime Member+

    United States
    Oct 18, 2020


    On the Minnesota-Austin PK retake review, am I seeing it wrong or is MIN #13’s foot not on the ground yet at the moment of the kick?

    Because if it’s not on the ground yet, isn’t he considered not to have encroached? I’m sure we’ve seen other penalties where an impactful player is leaning into the penalty area with their body / feet, but since their foot hasn’t landed in the penalty area yet it’s not punished.

    Or am I just misunderstanding the Law and their restart position is determined by the position of their feet even if the feet are not on the ground?


     

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