Referee and VAR Team for France vs. Spain World Cup Semifinal

Officials Assigned to France vs. Spain World Cup Semifinal

The stage is set for a thrilling World Cup semifinal between France and Spain, two teams that have captured attention throughout the tournament. Fans anticipate an exciting clash, especially with players like Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal expected to face off once again.

The match officials will play a key role in this encounter. The refereeing team comes from diverse backgrounds, representing El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Sweden. Leading the group is Ivan Barton, a referee from El Salvador who has been both praised and criticized during this World Cup due to his strict disciplinary style.

Match Officials Lineup

• Referee: Ivan Barton (El Salvador)
• Assistant Referees: David Moran (El Salvador), Antonio Pupiro (Nicaragua)
• Fourth Official: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
• Reserve Assistant Referee: Mahbod Beigi (Sweden)
• VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (Poland)
• Assistant VARs: Dennis Higler (Netherlands), Guillermo Pacheco (Mexico)

About Ivan Barton

Barton, aged 35, stands out as one of CONCACAF's top referees. He gained recognition officiating in El Salvador’s top soccer league, La Liga Mayor. After receiving his FIFA badge in 2018, he has handled matches in various international competitions such as the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2019 U-17 World Cup, and the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final.

He was also part of the refereeing team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and is involved again in the 2026 edition. Barton's career features moments that sparked debate, like handing out four red cards in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League semifinals between Mexico and the U.S., and cutting short a game due to homophobic chants from the crowd.

One memorable incident saw him send off Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron after video evidence showed Almiron covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent during the group stage.

"Ivan Barton has been announced as the referee for France vs Spain! Just when you thought the semifinals couldn't get any better, they have put the most entertaining referee from the World Cup on one of them!" — Sleeper Football

Social media buzz suggests that Barton's presence may turn this semifinal into one of the most talked-about events of the tournament.