Referees Announced for Semifinal Match Between France and Spain

The first semifinal match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held between France and Spain. FIFA has appointed Ivan Barton from El Salvador as the main referee for this crucial match. Following controversial decisions in previous rounds, FIFA has given special priority to the referee selection process.

In the FIFA World Cup 2026, referees have become as much a topic of discussion as the players. After several disputed calls throughout the tournament, referees have faced accusations of bias. Therefore, everyone is focused on how FIFA will select referees for the last three critical matches of the World Cup.

Ahead of the France-Spain semifinal, FIFA announced the official referee team for the match. This selection signals that FIFA is taking prior controversies and accusations seriously. For the first semifinal, five referees have been chosen: two from El Salvador, one from Nicaragua, and two from Sweden. Ivan Barton from El Salvador will serve as the main referee for the first semifinal.

David Moran will act as the first assistant referee, and Antonio Pupiro will be the second assistant referee. Glenn Nyberg has been appointed as the fourth official for the France-Spain game. Mahbod Begi from Sweden will serve as the reserve assistant referee. Controversies regarding referees’ decisions continue to surface in this ongoing World Cup.