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Venezuelan referee Valenzuela to officiate World Cup third-place match

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela will officiate the 2026 World Cup third-place match between England and France.
  • This appointment marks a significant career milestone for Valenzuela and Venezuelan football.
  • Valenzuela has extensive international experience, including officiating at the 2022 World Cup.

Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela is set to officiate the 2026 World Cup third-place match between England and France, a significant step towards his dream of refereeing a World Cup final.

FIFA announced Valenzuela will lead the match, accompanied by fellow Venezuelans Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno as assistants. This appointment is considered the most important of his career and a historic moment for Venezuelan football.

Valenzuela, 43, has a decorated career, having officiated two matches in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. His performance in this tournament, including group stage games and an round of 16 match, earned him this prestigious assignment for the penultimate game of the 2026 tournament at Miami Stadium.

With over 500 international matches under his belt, Valenzuela has been recognized for his skill. He was ranked among the world's top 25 referees by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics in 2025 and was named the best referee in CONMEBOL in 2021. His experience also includes officiating in the Copa Libertadores, Copa América, Club World Cup, and Olympic Games.

I want to referee a World Cup final.

— Jesús ValenzuelaStated in an interview prior to the 2026 World Cup.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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