Salvadoran Barton to referee the final

FIFA has appointed Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton, 35, to officiate the France vs. Spain match in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, further cementing his presence at major international tournaments. Barton boasts extensive experience at both the continental and international levels, having refereed approximately 280 matches, including several finals in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The France-Spain clash will be his seventh match in the current edition of the World Cup.

The Salvadoran referee gained prominence during the tournament when he became the first official to apply one of FIFA’s new rules, issuing a red card to Paraguayan player Miguel Almiron during the Turkey vs. Paraguay match for covering his mouth while speaking with Turkish player Mert Müldür. This was a direct application of the amendment introduced following the controversy surrounding Vinicius Junior and Gianluca Prestianni in the UEFA Champions League.

Barton will make his debut in a senior French national team match, although he previously refereed a game between France’s U-17 team and Brazil in the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup semifinals. He also issued a red card to Randall Kolo Muani during France’s heavy 4-0 defeat to Japan at the Tokyo Olympics.