Samuel Barrott to Officiate 2026 FA Community Shield Final
Samuel Barrott has been designated as the referee for the 2026 FA Community Shield Final, where Arsenal will compete against Manchester City on August 16 at the Principality Stadium.
Barrott, who is 33 years old, has quickly advanced through the ranks of English referees, officiating Premier League matches since 2024 and joining FIFA's official refereeing list in 2025. This match will be the third major final he has overseen, following his previous officiating of the 2023-24 EFL League One Playoff Final and the UEFA U19 EURO Final.
Alongside Barrott, assistant referees Craig Taylor and Blake Antrobus will assist, with Farai Hallam serving as the fourth official. The match will also feature full VAR implementation, managed by lead VAR official James Bell and assistant VAR Tim Wood. Barrott has a notable record with both teams, having officiated multiple matches involving them in various competitions.
