FIFA has appointed a full Argentine refereeing crew to officiate the crucial France vs. Morocco World Cup 2026 quarterfinal. This decision came days before the match, which France won 2-0 against Morocco on July 9, as reported by www.google.com.
The crew includes lead referee Facundo Tello, assistants Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade, with Dario Herrera as fourth official and Cristian Navarro as reserve assistant referee. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team is led by Argentina's Hernan Mastrangelo, assisted by Leodan Gonzalez from Uruguay and Tatiana Guzman from Nicaragua.
How does FIFA select referees for matches?
The process of selecting officials for major tournaments begins years in advance. FIFA monitored referees from all six continental confederations over a three-year period. From this assessment, a pool of 52 referees, 88 assistants, and 30 VAR officials was chosen for the 2026 World Cup, coming from 50 different countries.
These officials attended seminars, underwent fitness tests, and officiated FIFA-sanctioned tournaments as preparation. Before the competition, they attended a training camp in Miami where they were given access to FIFA's physical and mental health professionals. FIFA continues to track each official's performance throughout the tournament.
What was France's coach's reaction to the decision?
France head coach Didier Deschamps commented on the selection of Argentine officials ahead of the match. Deschamps said: "We have to deal with it. I trust the referees. Our opponent is Morocco, not the referee." He made these remarks on Wednesday, July 8, one day before the game.
This appointment comes while Argentina, the defending champion after beating France in the 2022 final, is still competing in the quarterfinals but on the opposite side of the bracket. FIFA rules prevent officials from working games involving their own country, making this selection possible.
What is Morocco's status after the quarterfinal exit?
Following the loss to France, the Morocco national team finished its 2026 World Cup run in second place in its group, with 7 points from 3 games (2 wins and 1 draw). The team scored 6 goals and conceded only 3, for a +3 goal difference. The full standings can be viewed on our standings page.
The team's recent form in its last 5 matches, recording 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses (LLWDD), indicated a dip in results heading into the decisive match. Morocco lost its last two matches before the campaign ended. Extended team statistics can be followed on our stats page.
How does the officiating crew work during the match?
The on-field crew consists of the lead referee, two assistants, a fourth official, and a reserve assistant referee. The reserve assistant's role is to be ready to replace any of the four on-field officials in case of injury. The VAR team works from inside a control room watching instant replay of every moment in the match.
If the on-field referee misses something significant, the VAR team alerts him. However, the final decision always rests with the lead referee on the pitch. Match official assignments are handed out three or four days before each game, based on ongoing evaluations.
A Somali referee, Omar Artan, was among the 52 officials selected but was denied entry to the United States to participate in the tournament. Overseeing all these operations is Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer. Morocco's performance, despite the exit, remains commendable, and fans now look to a new phase, with updates on the squad available on our squad page.
