FIFA confirmed the selection of 13 referees tasked with the concluding matches of the 2026 World Cup, resulting in the removal of French officials Francois Letexier and Clement Turpin from any further assignments. The world governing body applies regulations that prohibit referees from countries still in contention for the title from handling the semifinals, third-place playoff or final. Letexier officiated the quarterfinal between Argentina and Egypt, which the South American side won 3-2.
The Egyptian Football Association filed an official complaint with FIFA after the match, citing what it termed serious refereeing mistakes. In that statement the federation’s president Hany Abou Rida said the French referee Francois Letexier had committed errors and applied double standards that caused Egypt to lose and exit the tournament. Reports from the Egyptian camp highlighted particular dissatisfaction with a disputed penalty decision in the build-up to Argentina’s winning goal.
FIFA’s announcement of the approved referee list for the final stages underscored the application of its conflict-of-interest policy while France remains active in the competition. A FIFA assessment found that such measures preserve the integrity of the knockout rounds by eliminating any national bias concerns. The governing body had earlier supported similar decisions in prior World Cup cycles when national teams advanced deep into the tournament.
Clement Turpin’s final match at the competition was England’s 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway. Norwegian players questioned one decision involving contact between the ball and a suspended camera cable during the equalizer. FIFA backed Turpin’s handling of that incident according to its review of the fixture.
French referee Jerome Brisard remains eligible for selection as a video assistant referee for the remaining matches. His continued availability offers some French representation in the officiating setup despite the exit of his colleagues. FIFA protocols distinguish between on-field referees and VAR personnel in applying nationality restrictions.
Francois Letexier has served as a FIFA international referee since 2017 according to refereeing records maintained by European football authorities. He had taken charge of several group-stage matches at the 2026 tournament prior to the quarterfinal. The expanded 48-team format of this edition, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, has placed added focus on referee performance throughout the competition.
