Meet the Officials for the France vs. Spain World Cup Semifinal
The upcoming World Cup semifinal between France and Spain promises more than just thrilling soccer action. It will also feature a refereeing team that has drawn attention this tournament, led by Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton.
Match Officials
- 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 Ivan Barton
At 35 years old, Ivan Barton stands out as one of CONCACAF's top referees. His journey started in El Salvador's premier league, La Liga Mayor, where his officiating skills quickly made him a familiar figure.
Since gaining FIFA accreditation in 2018, Barton has taken charge at major tournaments including the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2019 U-17 World Cup, and the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final. He also officiated at both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.
Barton is no stranger to controversy. In the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League semifinals, he handed out four red cards during the Mexico vs. U.S. game and ended the match early in response to homophobic chants from fans. At the group stage of this World Cup, he sent off Paraguay's Miguel Almiron after video showed him covering his mouth during a conversation with 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." – Jon Lewis (@jlewis5211)
His presence on the field will surely add another layer of intensity to an already highly anticipated encounter at AT&T Stadium.
