English referee Michael Oliver will miss out on a substantial financial bonus after being barred from officiating the World Cup final. Oliver, one of two English referees at the 2026 tournament, had been a leading candidate to take charge of the final at MetLife Stadium this Sunday, given his extensive experience and solid performances.
Why Oliver Cannot Officiate the Final
Neither Oliver nor his fellow Premier League referee Anthony Taylor will be permitted to oversee the most prestigious fixture in world football. The pair have essentially been blocked from receiving the full pay package available for a FIFA referee at the tournament due to a combination of England reaching the semi-finals and geopolitical factors.
England's 2-1 win over Norway booked the Three Lions' place in the last four. According to FIFA's rules, a referee cannot officiate their home nation's match, ruling Oliver out of the semi-final against Argentina and the final, should England progress. Referees also cannot be assigned to a game that has a direct consequence for their home country in the next round, meaning they cannot oversee the other semi-final between France and Spain.
Geopolitical Factors at Play
English referees are not allowed to officiate Argentina's games due to the 1982 Falklands War, which remains a sensitive topic. Argentina's players have referenced the war in their dressing room celebrations, singing a song called 'Muchachos'. This means Oliver is ruled out of the final if either England or Argentina is involved.
Financial Impact on Oliver
Unfortunately for Oliver, through no fault of his own, he will miss out on the maximum salary available for a referee at the World Cup. According to The Times, referees at this summer's tournament could earn up to $100,000 (£85,000) and would receive sizable bonuses for officiating matches in the latter stages of the competition.
FIFA's official list included 51 referees going into the tournament, after Somalia's Omar Artan was refused entry into the United States. Reports indicate a standard basic rate was handed to officials for up to six weeks' work since they arrived at the tournament base in Miami in June. The baseline figure is said to be around double what officials received at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Officials then receive an extra sum per game for the knockout rounds.
Oliver's Tournament Performance
Oliver has officiated four fixtures across the tournament: Netherlands vs Sweden, Norway vs France, Canada vs Morocco, and the quarter-final clash, Spain vs Belgium. During the latter, Oliver suffered an embarrassing moment as he accidentally impeded Dani Olmo during a Spain attack, after which he apologised and stopped the game.
