England's Anthony Taylor to referee Portugal vs. Spain World Cup clash

English referee Anthony Taylor will take charge of the high-stakes World Cup Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain on July 6 in Dallas. Taylor, a Premier League referee since 2010 and a FIFA international since 2013, is officiating his third match of the tournament, having previously overseen Uzbekistan vs. Colombia and Senegal vs. Iraq.

Taylor's history with the Spanish national team includes two notable matches. In the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, a handball by Spain's Marc Cucurella in the penalty area during extra time was not called, despite a later UEFA referee committee report suggesting it should have been a penalty. Spain went on to win that match 2-1.

Another significant game Taylor refereed involving Spain was the 2021 Nations League final, where France defeated Spain 2-1. The decisive goal by Kylian Mbappé was allowed to stand, even though he appeared to be offside when the ball was played. The interpretation of the play by Taylor led to a subsequent rule change.

Taylor's most recent match involving Portugal was their 2-4 group stage loss to Germany at Euro 2021. He will be assisted by compatriots Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, with German officials Felix Zwayer and Robert Kempter serving as fourth official and reserve referee, respectively.