Why World Cup Referees are wearing unique pink jerseys in Miami matchup
Match officials for the Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia World Cup clash in Miami are wearing custom “pink flamingo” shirts as a dedicated token of appreciation for their tournament host city.
The officiating crew for Monday’s Group H World Cup match between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia will break tradition by wearing custom pink jerseys. Led by Italian referee Maurizio Mariani, the team adopted the unique color palette at Hard Rock Stadium.
The eye-catching look serves as a direct gesture of appreciation to the city of Miami, which is hosting the tournament’s referee headquarters.
FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina and President Gianni Infantino confirmed the tribute, noting that pink perfectly represents South Florida’s iconic sunsets and flamingo culture.
Over 170 match officials are living and training in Miami for the duration of the two-month tournament. The custom Adidas gear marks a rare occasion where referees wear host-city inspired colors instead of standard templates.
You can view FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcoming the match officials and discussing their preparation at their South Florida training base camp in this clip: Infantino greets the 170 referees and officials overseeing 2026 World Cup.
