Match #1
Group A
11 June 2026, 21:00 CET
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
MEXICO - SOUTH AFRICA
Referee: WILTON SAMPAIO (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: BRUNO PIRES (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: BRUNO BOSCHILIA (BRA)
Fourth Official: BENITEZ Juan Gabriel (PAR)
Reserve AR : CARDOZO Eduardo (PAR)
Vidéo Assistant Referee: GALLO Nicolas (COL)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 1 : LARA Juan (CHI)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 2 : BRISARD Jerome (FRA)
Referee: WILTON SAMPAIO (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: BRUNO PIRES (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: BRUNO BOSCHILIA (BRA)
Fourth Official: BENITEZ Juan Gabriel (PAR)
Reserve AR : CARDOZO Eduardo (PAR)
Vidéo Assistant Referee: GALLO Nicolas (COL)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 1 : LARA Juan (CHI)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 2 : BRISARD Jerome (FRA)
Match #2
Group A
12 June 2026, 04:00 CET
Estadio Akron, Zapopan
SOUTH KOREA - CZECH REPUBLIC Referee: MOHAMED Amin (EGY)
Assistant Referee 1: ABOUELREGAL Mahmoud (EGY)
Assistant Referee 2: HOSSAM TAHA Ahmed (EGY)
Fourth Official: CALDERON Juan (CRC)
Reserve AR : MORA Juan Carlos (CRC)
Vidéo Assistant Referee: ASHOUR Mahmoud (EGY)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 1 : DICKERSON Joe (USA)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 2 : DI BELLO Marco (ITA)
Match #3
Group B
12 June 2026, 21:00 CET
BMO Field, Toronto
CANADA - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Referee: TELLO Facundo (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: BELATTI Juan Pablo (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: CHADE Gabriel (ARG)
Fourth Official: AL TURAIS Khalid (KSA)
Reserve AR : AL ABAKRY Mohammed (KSA)
Vidéo Assistant Referee: MASTRANGELO Hernan (ARG)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 1 : GARCIA Antonio (URU)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 2 : GUZMAN Tatiana (NCA)
Match 4
Group D
13 June 2026, 03:00 CET
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
USA - PARAGUAY
Referee: MAKKELIE Danny (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: STEEGSTRA Hessel (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: DE VRIES Jan (NED)
Fourth Official: ARAKI Yusuke (JPN)
Reserve AR : MIHARA Jun (JPN)
Vidéo Assistant Referee: DEL CERRO GRANDE Carlos (ESP)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 1 : HIGLER Dennis (NED)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 2 : AL-MARRI Khamis (QAT)
USA - PARAGUAY
Referee: MAKKELIE Danny (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: STEEGSTRA Hessel (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: DE VRIES Jan (NED)
Fourth Official: ARAKI Yusuke (JPN)
Reserve AR : MIHARA Jun (JPN)
Vidéo Assistant Referee: DEL CERRO GRANDE Carlos (ESP)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 1 : HIGLER Dennis (NED)
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 2 : AL-MARRI Khamis (QAT)
Just to answer some comments on the blog: there will be WC coverage with appointments and discussions for all games, but differently from previous editions for sure it will not be so detailed. Not a single post for each game, will try to include more games in one discussion or something like that. Unfortunately I can't wake up in the night at that time and I don't have motivations to do that. Really sorry to all, bu nothing more is possible on my part this time. For those who are more enthusiast than me, enjoy this WC.
ReplyDeleteAre there A game predict the referee like WC 22 sir?
Deletehttps://whatref.com/
DeleteDiego612 with 2 of 3 calls correctly as far back as April 10. Well done 👏🏽 https://law5-theref.blogspot.com/2026/04/2026-fifa-world-cup-selected-officials.html?showComment=1775765287098&m=1#c9131421602122047454
ReplyDeleteOn the appointments: good sign for Sampaio, the referee for the opener should be always considered as candidate for the final, but this time we know, with Brazil and Argentina it could be less likely. However, for sure they will give him a lot in case of good performances.
ReplyDeleteTo follow, big trust on the Egyptian for sure, an early debut for a CAF referee at this WC, given the current situation, was maybe a bit hard to predict. The level of the game can justify the choice and maybe we can say this assignment is the first visible "effect" of a WC with more games than the previous editions.
The other big name for CONMEBOL will be in charge of Canada, that's easy to explain, they are another host, otherwise the assignment, with a game like this, would have been by far lower. And here I could already start critizicing FIFA for how they work, but we know. Making all pleased, but not caring about people. Absolutely unexpected in my opinion, let me repeat it, by a person like Collina.
Last but not least, Makkelie with USA opener, nothing to add, very good start in terms of consideration for him.
Sampaio is a logical choice, coming from a QF at the last tournament. He was the favourite among the non-UEFA referees in discussions about the appointment.
ReplyDeleteTello and Makkelie in the two other opening games are also sensible. Maybe a slight surprise to see two CONMEBOL referees though.
Good sign of trust for Makkelie after no KO game in 2022. But he had a QF at the CWC, so no surprise and a deserved appointment.
Mohamed might be the most surprising one in this set, because FIFA tends to go big on the first days. Also KOR-CZE is not sonorous, but on paper the game for second place in group A. So at least remarkable, that he has been chosen above e.g. Ghorbal. Will be interesting to follow the CAF pecking order during the tournament.
Benitez as 4th official shows that not only support referees will work in that role (but still could be a exception made for the opener). The obvious choice would have been Claus there (and Herrera for Tello btw), but they preferred to mix more.
On the VAR side, the most interesting point is, that del Cerro Grande and not Higler works as main VAR for Makkelie, indicating more trust for the Spanish official.
Gallo above Toski for Sampaio could be expected, given the experience of the Colombian in that role.
I was expected that will be a CONMEBOL for the opening game at WC 2026. Because it`s start in Mexico, a latin country with a hot atmosphere. So, I think Sampaio could handle better the game than Oliver. I don`t have problems with the other appointments.
ReplyDeleteWill situation with Artan affect other appointments in a way that some of the referees that were originally planed as reserves will get a game instead of him?
ReplyDeleteIt does seem as though everyone has forgotten that Artan was himself a reserve.
DeleteIt doesn't matter; Mr. Artan is a member of a squad. All the other should declare their solidarity with him and warn FIFA and the USA that they will not officiate at any game in any personal capacity, unless Artan is allowed to join his fellow refs.
DeleteDoesn't matter at all Mikael W. You can't accept an order where the hosting nation decides which referees they want. A now low even for FIFA that they don't demand the US to let him in.
DeleteI know the free time is an issue for all of us, but for better UX may I suggest to use bold text also for the name of the teams? Also, could you please add the date, time and location for each game?
ReplyDeleteIt's really an effort with so many games, for me. I have to be honest here. Will try to do that, nevertheless.
DeleteThese are my predictions for Saturday's matches:
ReplyDeleteQatar – Switzerland: Said Martinez
Brazil – Morocco: Francois Letexier
Haiti – Scotland: Cristian Garay
Australia – Türkiye: Yael Falcon
Mehdi Rahmouni is born in France, but he has Morroco roots. so, I don't think it will be Letexier. why not Turpin for Brazil game? do you remember Scharer with Almeida at Euro 2024?
DeleteHas it ever happened in the history of World Cup that a referee officiated both the opening and final matches? Sampaio seemed like a possible finals candidate to me, assuming this year's finalist will be CONCACAF/CONMEBOL, along with Ramos and Elfath. Should we now consider him only as a possible semifinalist? Am I forgetting other finals candidates?
ReplyDeleteThe two Argentinians Elizondo and Pitana in 06 and 18
Delete