Wolfgang Stark of Germany will referee the opening match of the FIFA Under-17 World Championship between New Zealand and the United States at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Wednesday evening (kick-off 7.30 p.m.).

The assistants for the game will be Igor Sramka (Slovakia) and Heinrich Mackay (Aruba), with Costas Kapitanis (Cyprus) as the fourth official.

The FIFA Referees’ Committee designated the match officials for the first eight games of the competition, with New Zealand referee Bruce Grimshaw taking charge of the game in Napier on Thursday between Mexico and Thailand.

A total of 15 referees and 16 assistants from all six continental confederations have been appointed for the 32 matches of the competition.