Referee Drew Fischer shows a yellow card to Botafogo's Gregore during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between PSG and Botafogo in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

By The Canadian Press

Canadian Drew Fischer named MLS’s top referee for a second year in a row

Oct 24, 2025 | 8:32 AM

NEW YORK — Canadian Drew Fischer has been named MLS Referee of the Year for the second year in a row.

The 45-year-old from Calgary is the first referee to earn consecutive honours since Alan Kelly in 2015-16. Kelly, since retired, also won in 2018.

American Cory Richardson was named MLS Assistant Referee of the Year for the second year in a row.

Fischer has refereed 220 MLS career games, including 20 regular-season games this season, since debuting in August 2012.

He was in charge of two matches during this summer’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. He also served as referee, fourth official and video match official duties during the 2024 Olympic Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup (2019 and 2023), FIFA Club World Cup (2020 and 2021, as well as 2025) and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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Nominated by a selection process that included executives from the Professional Referee Organization, candidates for both MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year are voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and MLS players.

Silviu Petrescu of Kitchener, Ont., was named top referee in 2012, while Joe Fletcher, from St. Catharines, Ont., by way of Niagara Falls, was honoured as top assistant referee in 2018.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025

The Canadian Press