The 2026 World Cup semi-finals begin tonight with France facing Spain in Dallas. France, the tournament favorites, secured their spot with a 2-0 victory over Morocco, while Spain edged past Belgium 2-1 thanks to Mikel Merino's late goal after a goalkeeper error. France has reached the final in the last two World Cups and aims to become the third team ever to reach three consecutive finals. Spain, on the other hand, is in uncharted territory, having not reached the semi-finals since winning the World Cup in 2010.
Who is the Referee for France vs Spain?
FIFA has appointed Ivan Barton from El Salvador to officiate the match. The 35-year-old has refereed three games at the 2026 World Cup, most recently the last-16 penalty shootout between Switzerland and Colombia. Barton gained viral fame during the group stage match between Paraguay and Turkey, where he became the first referee to send off a player for covering their mouth while talking to an opponent. Paraguay's Miguel Almiron was shown a red card after a VAR review for covering his mouth during an altercation with a Turkish player. Barton's animated delivery of the decision—"After review, number 10, Paraguay, cover his mouth, decision is red card"—became an internet sensation.
Barton's Refereeing Career
Barton is one of CONCACAF's most prominent referees and officiated at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Known for his no-nonsense approach, he once issued four red cards during the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League semi-final between Mexico and the United States, and stopped the game early after hearing homophobic chants from the crowd. His unique style has made him a memorable figure in this tournament.
