Argentine Referees Set for World Cup 2026 Debut

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature Argentine officials from its opening stages, with two of the three selected referees, Facundo Tello and Yael Falcón Pérez, confirmed for assignments in the first round of group matches. The third Argentine referee, Darío Herrera, will await his debut.

This development signifies a strong presence for Argentinian officiating on the global stage, with Tello and Falcón Pérez set to make their mark in the highly anticipated tournament.

Tello to Officiate Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Facundo Tello will be the first of the two to take the field, presiding over the match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The game is scheduled to take place this Friday, June 12, at 3 p.m. in Toronto. He will be supported by assistant referees Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade. Khalid Alturais will serve as the fourth official, with Mohammed Alabakry as the reserve assistant.

Additionally, there will be an Argentinian presence in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) booth, with Hernán Mastrángelo appointed as the principal VAR official. He will be joined by Antonio García of Uruguay as AVAR and Tatiana Guzmán for technological support.

Tello brings a wealth of international experience to the role. After earning his FIFA badge, he has officiated in numerous Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana matches. He was also part of the officiating team at the Qatar 2022 World Cup and was selected by UEFA to work at Euro 2024.

Falcón Pérez to Referee Sweden vs. Tunisia

Yael Falcón Pérez is assigned to the match between Sweden and Tunisia, which will be played on Sunday, June 14, at 10 p.m. in Monterrey. His assistant referees will be fellow Argentinians Maximiliano Del Yesso and Facundo Rodríguez. The Costa Rican duo of Juan Calderón and Juan Carlos Mora will act as fourth official and reserve assistant, respectively.

Falcón Pérez, who received his FIFA badge in 2022, will be making his World Cup debut. His international career includes officiating at the Olympic Games, Copa América, Copa Libertadores, and South American World Cup qualifiers. This World Cup assignment marks a significant milestone in his career.

Key facts

The appointments of Tello and Falcón Pérez highlight Argentina’s strong standing in international football officiating. Their participation in the World Cup underscores the quality and development of referees from the nation, providing valuable experience that will ultimately benefit South American football. For fans of the sport, these assignments mean trusted and experienced officials will be overseeing crucial early-round matches.

Source: Clarin Deportes (https://www.clarin.com/deportes/mundial-2026-arbitros-argentinos-fecha-debut-copa-mundo_0_6p9DJTQNGj.html)