France vs Spain Referee: Key Officials for World Cup Semifinal

Tuesday’s showdown at AT&T Stadium pits France against Spain for a spot in the World Cup final. Both sides bring elite talent, highlighted by Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, whose rivalry has been building all tournament. The match will be officiated by a crew representing three continents, adding a layer of intrigue to the high‑stakes encounter.

Officials Announced for the Semifinal

The referee crew is a mix of experience and fresh faces. Ivan Barton of El Salvador takes charge, assisted by David Moran (El Salvador) and Antonio Pupiro (Nicaragua). Glenn Nyberg (Sweden) serves as the fourth official, with Mahbod Beigi (Sweden) standing by as reserve assistant referee. The Video Assistant Referee is Tomasz Kwiatkowski from Poland.

• Referee: Ivan Barton (El Salvador)
• Assistant referees: David Moran (El Salvador), Antonio Pupiro (Nicaragua)
• 4th official: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
• Reserve AR: Mahbod Beigi (Sweden)
• VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (Poland)

Background on Referee Ivan Barton

Age 35, Barton is one of CONCACAF’s most visible arbiters. He rose to prominence in El Salvador’s La Liga Mayor before earning FIFA badge status in 2018. Barton has staffed several major tournaments, including the 2019 Gold Cup, the 2019 U‑17 World Cup and the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final. He already appeared at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and is slated for the 2026 edition.

His tenure has not been without controversy. During the 2023 Nations League semifinal between Mexico and the United States, Barton issued four red cards and halted the match early after hearing homophobic chants. A red card to Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron followed a video showing Almiron covering his mouth while speaking to a Turkish player in a group‑stage fixture.

All signs point to Barton being a central figure in the France‑Spain clash, with fans and analysts expecting another headline‑making performance from the Salvadoran official.

With Mbappé and Yamal set to duel on the same night the refereeing spotlight shines on a veteran who often finds himself in the middle of debate, the semifinal promises drama both on and off the pitch.