French referees Letexier and Turpin removed from World Cup officiating list

French referees François Letexier and Clément Turpin will not officiate any further matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA confirmed. This decision comes despite France remaining in contention for the tournament title. FIFA regulations stipulate that referees from countries still participating in the competition cannot take charge of the semifinals, third-place match, or the final to prevent any potential conflicts of interest.

Letexier's final assignment was the quarterfinal match between Argentina and Egypt, a game Argentina won 3-2. The French referee faced scrutiny from the Egyptian camp regarding a controversial penalty decision that preceded Argentina's late winning goal. Turpin's last match as a referee was England's 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway. That game sparked debate after Norwegian players alleged that Jude Bellingham's equalizer resulted from contact between the ball and a suspended camera cable. FIFA later stated its support for Turpin's handling of the incident.

While Letexier and Turpin have concluded their on-field duties for the tournament, another French official, Jérôme Brisard, remains available as a VAR official and could still be selected for upcoming matches. The selection of referees for the final stages of the World Cup involves careful consideration to ensure impartiality.