Two Premier League referees, Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, have been officially ruled out of officiating the 2026 World Cup final. The decision follows England's 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in the round of 16, which secured their place in the semi-finals alongside Argentina.
FIFA regulations prevent home nation involvement
Under FIFA rules, referees cannot officiate matches involving their home country. With both England and Argentina still competing, Oliver and Taylor—the only English referees at the tournament—are ineligible for any match that could affect their nation's progress. This includes the semi-final between France and Spain, as well as the final itself.
FIFA also considers politically sensitive situations when assigning officials. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the 1982 Falklands War is a factor, barring English referees from overseeing Argentina matches. This restriction applies to any fixture with direct implications for Argentina's progression, and vice versa.
Historical context and impact on referees
This is not the first time such restrictions have affected Taylor and Oliver. In 2022, they were prevented from refereeing the World Cup final due to Argentina's involvement. The Falklands War remains a sensitive topic, as evidenced by Argentina players singing a song referencing the conflict after their quarter-final win over Egypt.
Oliver had officiated four matches during the tournament, including Netherlands vs Sweden, Norway vs France, Canada vs Morocco, and the quarter-final between Spain and Belgium, where he accidentally impeded Dani Olmo. He was a frontrunner for the final before England's progression. Taylor refereed Uzbekistan vs Colombia, Senegal vs Iraq, and Portugal vs Spain in the last 16.
Despite their strong performances, both referees will now take no further part in the World Cup, leaving the final assignment to other officials.
