Referee and VAR Team for France vs. Spain World Cup Semifinal
One of the last two matches before the World Cup final features France and Spain, two teams that have dazzled fans throughout this tournament. The spotlight will not only be on stars like Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal but also on the refereeing team responsible for controlling the game at AT&T Stadium on Tuesday.
The officiating squad brings together officials from El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Sweden. At the center of it all is referee Ivan Barton, a prominent figure in this year's tournament who has sparked debate with his strict enforcement and red card decisions.
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 Referee Ivan Barton
At 35 years old, Ivan Barton stands out as one of CONCACAF's top referees. He rose through the ranks officiating in El Salvador's top league, La Liga Mayor, and gained his FIFA badge in 2018. His international experience spans tournaments such as the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2019 U-17 World Cup, the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final, and both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.
Barton’s style has drawn attention—some see him as a strict enforcer, especially after issuing four red cards in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League semifinal between Mexico and the U.S. He also ended that match early due to homophobic chants from the crowd. During the group stage of this World Cup, he sent off Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent.
"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," tweeted one fan.
Expect more moments under Barton's watchful eye during this high-stakes clash.
