Meet the Officials for France vs. Spain World Cup Semifinal
The clash between France and Spain at AT&T Stadium on Tuesday carries high stakes, with a spot in the final on the line. Among the many storylines is the refereeing team, which features some familiar names from this tournament.
The main referee assigned to this semifinal is Ivan Barton from El Salvador. His presence is notable due to his reputation for handing out red cards and making bold decisions throughout this World Cup.
Refereeing Team
- 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
At 35, Barton stands out as one of the top referees within CONCACAF. He rose through the ranks officiating in El Salvador's premier league, La Liga Mayor. Since gaining FIFA accreditation in 2018, he has been involved in many international tournaments such as the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2019 U-17 World Cup, and the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final.
His experience extends to both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. Barton's approach to refereeing has made headlines, especially during the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League semifinals when he handed out four red cards in a single match between Mexico and the United States. On another occasion, he ended a game early due to offensive chants from fans.
During the group stage, Barton sent off Paraguay's Miguel Almiron after video evidence showed him covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent. This World Cup has seen him become a polarizing figure, attracting both praise and criticism.
"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 (@SleeperFooty)
"I'm being 100% serious that the addition of Ivan Barton moves Spain vs. France from a must-watch World Cup semifinal to the most important televised event of the century." — Jon Lewis (@jlewis5211)
Expect Barton to be at the center of attention when Les Bleus face La Roja. His calls could shape the course of this crucial encounter.
