Salvadoran Referee Ivan Barton to Officiate World Cup 2026 Semi-Final

Ivan Barton, a 35‑year‑old referee from El Salvador, has been appointed by FIFA to supervise the France‑Spain semi‑final of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for 15 July at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, USA. Barton becomes the first Salvadoran official ever to take charge of a World Cup semi‑final and will officiate his fourth match of the tournament.

He previously refereed the group‑stage Turkey‑Paraguay game, where he issued the tournament’s first straight red card under FIFA’s new mouth‑covering rule (the so‑called “Vinicius Law”), sending Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón off. Barton also oversaw Japan‑Sweden and Switzerland‑Colombia (Round of 16) matches. His assistants are David Morán and Antonio Pupiro. Barton holds a FIFA badge since 2018 and has a background in chemical sciences and university teaching.