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All-Brazilian line-up to referee opening game at World Cup

Published: 2026-06-09T14:59:00+04:00 1 min read

Workers cover a Kansas City Chiefs sign to FIFA World Cup 2026 as work continues to transform Arrowhead Stadium to Kansas City Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament Monday, June 8, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio will take charge of the ‌opening match of the FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, leading a three-man Brazil team for the curtain-raiser in ⁠Mexico City.

Compatriots Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia will be Sampaio's assistants in Thursday’s Group A ‌inaugural clash at the Estadio Azteca.

Sampaio also officiated matches at ‌the 2022 World Cup in Qatar ‌and was part of ‌the video assistant ‌referee (VAR) team when it was introduced at the 2018 ‌edition in Russia. FIFA has ⁠assembled a record pool of match officials - 52 referees and 88 assistant ⁠referees - ⁠for the expanded 48-team tournament. The

United States has denied entry ⁠to one referee, however - Omar Abdulkadir Artan of Somalia - who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate ‌at a match in the World Cup.

Referee appointments for each game are typically announced two to three days in advance.