Rome, 13 July (LaPresse) – Ivan Arcides Barton Cisneros from El Salvador will referee the first semi-final of the 2026 World Cup between France and Spain, scheduled for Tuesday 15 July in Dallas. The 35-year-old, appointed by FIFA, will be officiating his seventh World Cup match. At Qatar 2022, he refereed two group stage matches as well as the round of 16 fixture between England and Senegal (3–0). In this tournament, he was the first – during the match between Turkey and Paraguay – to apply the new FIFA rule which mandates a red card for any player who covers their mouth whilst addressing an opponent in an aggressive manner. This new rule had been unanimously approved by IFAB specifically to target players who, by concealing their lips, often utter insults or unsporting remarks. Miguel Almiron was on the receiving end of this in first-half stoppage time.
2026 World Cup: Salvadoran Barton to referee France v Spain semi-final
Rome, 13 July (LaPresse) – Ivan Arcides Barton Cisneros from El Salvador will referee the first semi-final of the 2026 World Cup between France and Spain, scheduled for Tuesday 15 July in Dallas. The 35-year-old, appointed by FIFA, will be officiating his seventh World Cup match. At Qatar 2022, he refereed two group stage matches as well as the round of 16 fixture between England and Senegal (3–0). In this tournament, he was the first – during the match between Turkey and Paraguay – to apply the new FIFA rule which mandates a red card for any player who covers their mouth whilst addressing an opponent in an aggressive manner. This new rule had been unanimously approved by IFAB specifically to target players who, by concealing their lips, often utter insults or unsporting remarks. Miguel Almiron was on the receiving end of this in first-half stoppage time.
