Ivan Barton to referee France v Spain World Cup 2026 semi-final | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, FIFA has appointed Ivan Barton to take charge of France v Spain in the first World Cup 2026 semi-final on Tuesday at 21:00. The 35-year-old Salvadoran will be in charge for the seventh World Cup match of his career.

Barton has overseen nearly 280 senior matches, including several Concacaf Champions Cup finals, the equivalent of the Champions League.

At this edition he became the first referee to enforce one of FIFA’s new rules, dismissing Miguel Almiron for covering his mouth while speaking with Mert Müldür during Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay. The measure followed controversy involving Vinicius and Gianluca Prestianni in the Champions League.

This will be his first time refereeing France’s senior side. He previously officiated the Under-17s at the 2019 World Cup, including the semi-final against Brazil that ended 2-3.

Two years later he sent off Randal Kolo Muani in France’s 0-4 defeat to Japan at the Olympics. It will also be his first appointment with Spain’s senior team.

Source: L'Équipe