French referee François Letexier to officiate Argentina vs. Egypt World Cup match

FIFA has appointed French referee François Letexier to officiate the crucial World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt. The selection of a French officiating team, including assistants Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni, has drawn attention on social media.

Letexier, a 37-year-old referee from Bédée, France, is considered one of the most promising officials in European football and holds elite status within UEFA. He will be supported by Norwegian fourth official Espen Eskas and reserve assistant Isaak Bashevkin. This appointment marks Letexier's third assignment in the current tournament, having previously overseen the group stage matches between Ecuador and Ivory Coast, and Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.

Letexier's career began in France's Ligue 1 over a decade ago, where he became the youngest referee in the league's history at age 28. He earned FIFA international referee status in 2017 and was recognized as the best referee in the world in 2024 by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. Throughout his professional career, he has officiated approximately 400 official matches, including over 220 in France's top leagues and cups. Statistics indicate he averages 3.55 yellow cards and 0.2 red cards per match.

Notably, Letexier also refereed the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica, which led to the "Caso Prestianni" controversy involving an Argentinian player from the Portuguese club. The match, won 1-0 by Real Madrid, resulted in the player being sanctioned by UEFA following accusations of insulting Brazilian player Vinícius Jr. The Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt is scheduled for Tuesday at 13:00 Argentine time in New Jersey.