FIFA names Argentinian referee team for France vs. Morocco World Cup quarter-final

FIFA has designated Argentinian referee Facundo Tello to officiate the 2026 World Cup quarter-final match between France and Morocco. The announcement was made just two days before the highly anticipated clash, with Tello's compatriots Juan Pablo Belatti, Gabriel Chade, Darío Herrera, and Cristian Navarro also named as part of the officiating crew.

This will be Tello's second appearance in the current World Cup tournament. He previously refereed the 1-1 draw between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later, South Africa's victory over South Korea in the group stage. His experience extends to the 2022 World Cup, where he officiated three matches, including a quarter-final encounter between Morocco and Portugal.

In the 2022 quarter-final, Tello notably sent off Morocco's Walid Cheddira in stoppage time, yet the African team managed to secure their historic advancement to the semi-finals. They were subsequently eliminated by France, their upcoming opponent on July 9. With the France-Morocco match, Tello will officiate his fifth game across two World Cups.

So far in the 2026 tournament, Tello has not issued any red cards. He managed a match with 30 fouls between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a less physical game with 16 fouls between South Africa and South Korea, where he issued five and two yellow cards, respectively. The appointment of an Argentinian crew for a high-stakes match between European and African giants underscores the global nature of the tournament's officiating.