FIFA World Cup Final 2026: Vinčić (SVN)

19 July 2026

Spain – Argentina
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Adham Makhadmeh JOR
Reserve AR: Mohammad Al-Kalaf JOR
VAR: Bastian Dankert GER
AVAR: Nicolas Gallo COL
SVAR: Khamis Al-Marri QAT
SBVAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA
SBAVAR: Guillermo Pacheco MEX

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Match for Third Place

18 July 2026

France – England
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela VEN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno VEN
Fourth Official: Jalal Jayed MAR
Reserve AR: Zakaria Brinsi MAR
VAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU
AVAR: Armando Villarreal USA
SVAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
SBVAR: Juan Soto VEN
SBAVAR: Juan Lara CHI

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semi-final 2

15 July 2026

England – Argentina
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
VAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
AVAR: Juan Lara CHI
SVAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA
SBVAR: Armando Villarreal USA
SBAVAR: Joe Dickerson USA

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semi-final 1

14 July 2026

France – Spain
Referee: Ivan Barton SLV (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran SLV
Assistant Referee 2: Antonio Pupiro NCA
Fourth Official: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Reserve AR: Mahbod Beigi SWE
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
AVAR: Dennis Higler NED
SVAR: Guillermo Pacheco MEX
SBVAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU
SBAVAR: Ivan Bebek CRO

Dutch VAR Dieperink dies weeks after being dropped from FIFA World Cup

Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink has died weeks after he was dropped from officiating at the World Cup following a police investigation in the UK. Dieperink had been selected to be a video assistant referee (VAR) official at this summer's tournament but was removed from FIFA's list of World Cup officials in May. The 38-year-old was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April following a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy, but the case was dropped because of a lack of evidence. Dieperink was the VAR for Crystal Palace's 3-0 Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg win over Fiorentina on 9 April. A Metropolitan Police statement said: "On Thursday, 9 April, officers responded to a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy, which occurred at an address on Wellesley Road, Croydon. A man in his 30s was subsequently arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. "Officers completed a thorough investigation and reviewed all available evidence, including gathering CCTV and examining digital devices. Following these enquiries, they concluded that the evidential threshold had not been met. No further action will be taken."

Dieperink had refereed in the Eredivisie since 2017 for a total of 284 matches across his career. He was a VAR at Euro 2024 and an assistant VAR for the 2024 Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen. After he was dropped from the World Cup, Dieperink said he had been "wrongly accused" in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, external. "It saddens me greatly that I have been wrongly accused," he said. "From the beginning, I have fully cooperated in the police investigation and also immediately gave full openness to FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB. I am grateful for the support I have received from the KNVB and the way in which they have dealt with this case. It is a pity that FIFA has decided not to appoint me for the World Cup anymore, of course I am disappointed about that."

The Netherlands' football association, the KNVB, said they were "shocked and deeply saddened" by Dieperink's death. His cause of death has not been disclosed. "With Rob, we lose a highly valued referee, but above all a kind and dedicated colleague," the KNVB said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and everyone who held him dear. We wish them much strength and support in processing this great loss."

FIFA, football's global governing body, said it learned of the news with "great sadness". "On behalf of the entire football community, we extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends and the Dutch Football Association. May he rest in peace," it said.

Source: BBC

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Second Referee Release

Match officials retained

AFC
Referee: Alireza Faghani AUS (photo)

Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis AUS
Assistant Referee 2: James Lindsay AUS

Referee: Adham Makhadmeh JOR
Assistant Referee 1: Mohammad Al-Kalaf JOR
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Al-Roalle JOR

Video Match Official
Khamis Al-Marri QAT

CAF
Referee: Pierre Atcho GAB
Assistant Referee 1: Boris Ditsoga GAB
Assistant Referee 2: Amos Abeigne GAB

Referee: Jalal Jayed MAR
Assistant Referee 1: Mostafa Akarkad MAR
Assistant Referee 2: Zakaria Brinsi MAR

CONCACAF
Referee: Ivan Barton SLV
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran SLV
Assistant Referee 2: Antonio Pupiro NCA

Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA

Video Match Officials
1. Guillermo Pacheco MEX
2. Tatiana Guzman NCA
3. Joe Dickerson USA
4. Armando Villarreal USA

CONMEBOL
Referee: Wilton Sampaio BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Boschilia BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Pires BRA

Referee: Jesus Valenzuela VEN
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno VEN

Video Match Officials
1. Juan Lara CHI
2. Nicolas Gallo COL
3. Leodan Gonzalez URU
4. Juan Soto VEN

UEFA
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA

Referee: Espen Eskas NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin NOR

Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL

Referee: Joao Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR

Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN

Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE

Video Match Officials
1. Ivan Bebek CRO
2. Bastian Dankert GER
3. Marco Di Bello ITA
4. Dennis Higler NED
5. Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
6. Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP

Match officials released after Quarter-finals

 
AFC
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim QAT
Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri QAT
Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Al-Maqaleh QAT

Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev UZB
Assistant Referee 1: Andrey Tsapenko UZB
Assistant Referee 2: Timur Gaynullin UZB

Video Match Officials
1. Abdullah Al-Shehri KSA
2. Mohammed Obaid UAE

CAF
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal ALG
Assistant Referee 1: Mokrane Gourari ALG
Assistant Referee 2: Abbes Zerhouni ALG

Referee: Amin Omar EGY
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud El-Regal EGY
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam EGY

Referee: Dahane Beida MTN
Assistant Referee 1: Jerson Dos Santos ANG
Assistant Referee 2: Elvis Noupue CMR

Video Match Official
Mahmoud Ashour EGY

CONCACAF
Referee: Drew Fischer CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Barwegen CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Lyes Arfa CAN

Referee: Said Martinez HON
Assistant Referee 1: Walter Lopez HON
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Ramirez HON

Referee: Cesar Ramos MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra MEX

Referee: Tori Penso USA
Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt USA

CONMEBOL
Referee: Yael Falcon ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Maximiliano Del Yesso ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Facundo Rodriguez ARG

Referee: Facundo Tello ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Bellati ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade ARG

Referee: Ramon Abatti BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Alves BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Danilo Manis BRA

Referee: Cristian Garay CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Retamal CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Rocha CHI

Referee: Juan Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Milciades Saldivar PAR

Referee: Gustavo Tejera URU
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Barreiro URU
Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Taran URU

Referee: Dario Herrera ARG
Assistant Referee: Cristian Navarro ARG

Referee: Raphael Claus BRA
Assistant Referee: Rodrigo Figueiredo BRA

Video Match Officials
1. Hernan Mastrangelo ARG
2. Antonio Garcia URU

UEFA
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG

Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG

Referee: Francois Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA

Referee: Clement Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages FRA

Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER

Referee: Danny Makkelie NED
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED

Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi RO

Referee: Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Naranjo Pérez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sanchez Rojo ESP

Video Match Officials
1. Bram Van Driessche BEL
2. Jarred Gillett ENG
3. Jerôme Brisard FRA

UEFA U-19 Euro Final 2026: Barrott (ENG)

11 July 2026

Spain – Germany
Referee: Samuel Barrott ENG (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Wade Smith ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Jeffrey NIR
Fourth Official: Bence Csonka HUN
Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED

UEFA Women’s U-19 Euro Final 2026: Bočkova (SVK)

10 July 2026

Germany – Spain
Referee: Miriama Bočková SVK (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandra Mostowska POL
Assistant Referee 2: Vasilia Tsiklitari GRE
Fourth Official: Deborah Bianchi ITA
Referee Observer: Dagmar Damkova CZE

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter-finals (Matches 99-100)

11 July 2026

Norway – England
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pagès FRA
Fourth Official: Alejandro Hernández Hernández ESP
Reserve AR: José Naranjo Pérez ESP
VAR: Jerome Brisard FRA
AVAR: Armando Villarreal USA
SVAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
SBVAR: Mohammed Obaid UAE
SBAVAR: Abdullah Al-Shehri KSA

Argentina – Switzerland
Referee: João Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR
Fourth Official: Drew Fischer CAN
Reserve AR: Michael Barwegen CAN
VAR: Guillermo Pacheco MEX
AVAR: Juan Lara CHI
SVAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
SBVAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL
SBAVAR: Willy Delajod FRA

Collina: "We are not influenced by anyone"

The Round of 16 ties have now concluded, and we are 96 matches into the FIFA World Cup. What is your overall assessment?

Let’s start by saying that we have now played 50% more matches than at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and there are still eight more huge games to be played. Overall, we are happy. However, with such a high number of matches played in a relatively short period of time, it is normal that some things do not go as expected. When that happens, they are ready to work even harder to ensure they are fully prepared for the next match. Of course, constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport. Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right. Equally, nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA President [Gianni Infantino]. He has always shown his full support for FIFA Team One while trusting us to work with complete independence. Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best.

Are there any specific areas of focus for you?

Usually, during a competition, we prefer not to focus on specific incidents. However, as we recently clarified what match officials would be looking for when attacking players try to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from moving and being able to defend the goal, we also wanted to clarify another topic that has generated debate.

After every goal is scored, the VAR checks the attacking possession phase (APP). If a foul is identified in the build-up and is deemed to have had an impact on the goal, the VAR will recommend an on-field review. There is no defined limit regarding either the distance from goal or the amount of time between the incident and the goal. An example of this came in the Argentina v Egypt game where Egypt No. 19 Marwan Attia clearly treads on the foot of Argentina No. 6 Lisandro Martínez. We believe that a foul is a foul. Regardless of whether the foul appears 'obvious', if the referee did not see it on the field of play, the VAR can intervene.

Equally, if no foul is identified in the build-up to a goal, the VAR will advise the referee accordingly. Stepping on an opponent's foot is a foul, whereas a defender who touches the ball first and then makes normal football contact has not committed a foul. Again, an example of this came at the end of the same game. The referee and the VAR deemed it normal football contact between Egypt No. 10 Mohamed Salah and Argentina No. 10 Julián Alvarez. Of course, there will always be an element of subjectivity in some decisions, but we are happy with how this principle has been applied throughout the tournament.

Source: FIFA