Garay arrives with experience of major South American competitions, including the Copa América, Copa Libertadores and World Cup qualifying. The report says he would become the first Chilean referee to take charge of a World Cup match in 12 years, following Enrique Osses’ appearance at the 2014 tournament.
His team is expected to include Chilean assistants José Retamal and Miguel Rocha, with Peru’s Kevin Ortega as fourth official and Juan Lara handling VAR duties.
Garay’s recent record has not been free of debate. The report says former Argentine referee Javier Castrilli called for his removal from Chilean league fixtures in 2025 after Everton’s coach accused him of making unfair decisions against the club.
Earlier this year, Garay was also criticised after reversing a penalty decision following VAR intervention during a Saudi league match between Al Fateh and Al Hilal. Such incidents do not determine his performance in Canada’s match, but they ensure every major call will receive close attention.
The tournament has already produced four red cards, according to the report, increasing the focus on discipline and VAR consistency. Canada will need to avoid allowing the referee narrative to overshadow its own performance.
Garay’s opening World Cup assignment now becomes a test of composure for both official and teams. The next storyline will be whether Canada can turn its status as favourite into a result - and whether Garay’s debut passes without another flashpoint.