Italian referee Maurizio Mariani has been selected to officiate the 2026 UEFA Conference League Final, a highly anticipated showdown between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano. The match is set to take place in Leipzig on Wednesday, May 27, with kickoff at 20:00 UK time (21:00 CEST). Marco Di Bello will serve as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the fixture.

At 44 years old, Mariani brings a wealth of experience to the pitch. He has been an international referee since 2019, and this marks his first major European final, following his role as the fourth official in last season's Europa League Final. His impressive résumé this season includes overseeing seven Champions League matches, including the high-stakes quarter-final second leg between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

Mariani will be supported by fellow Italian assistants Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni, with Sweden's Glenn Nyberg stepping in as the fourth official. The VAR team is also an all-Italian affair, featuring Marco Di Bello and Daniele Chiffi, alongside Croatia's Ivan Bebek in a supporting role. Both Mariani and Di Bello are also set to represent Italy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In other UEFA final appointments, France's Francois Letexier will take charge of the Europa League Final between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul on May 20. His VAR team includes Jerome Brisard, supported by Willy Delajod and Dennis Higler.

As the countdown to these thrilling finals begins, football fans around the world are gearing up for a month of unforgettable action on the European stage.