The highly anticipated World Cup quarterfinal match between France and Morocco is set to kick off at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. With a spot in the tournament semifinals on the line, every single decision on the pitch will carry massive weight. FIFA has officially selected the match officials for this big game, and the choice has already created plenty of conversation among football fans. 

Who is the referee for France vs Morocco?

The main referee chosen to handle the match between France and Morocco is Facundo Tello. He is a highly experienced professional match official who comes from Argentina. Facundo Tello is 44 years old and was born on May 4, 1982, in the city of Bahia Blanca. 

He started refereeing top-flight football games in Argentina back in 2013 and earned his official FIFA badge in 2019. Since then, he has controlled games in major international tournaments, including the Copa Libertadores in South America and UEFA Euro 2024 in Europe. This 2026 tournament marks his second career appearance at a FIFA World Cup, making him one of the most trusted officials in the sport today. 

Who are the assistant referees and full officiating crew for France vs Morocco?

FIFA has made a unique decision by appointing a complete group of officials who all come from the exact same country. Every single on-field and reserve match official for this quarterfinal game is from Argentina. This is the first time in the 2026 tournament that a match crew is entirely made up of individuals from one single nation. 

The complete list of match officials for the game includes:

What is Facundo Tello’s refereeing style and disciplinary record?

Facundo Tello has built a strong reputation in club football as a very strict official who does not tolerate bad behavior from players. Over his career, he has refereed 434 matches and handed out a staggering 2,032 yellow cards, which averages to more than four bookings per game. He has also shown 149 red cards and awarded 113 penalties. He became famous worldwide in 2022 after showing 10 red cards during a single chaotic Argentine Cup final between Boca Juniors and Racing Club. 

However, he has shown a much calmer refereeing style when working on the international stage. In his five career World Cup appearances across the 2022 and 2026 tournaments, he has only given out 15 yellow cards and a single red card. Interestingly, Moroccan fans know him very well because he was the referee for Morocco’s historic 1-0 win over Portugal in the 2022 quarterfinals. During that emotional night, his only World Cup red card went to Moroccan forward Walid Cheddira in stoppage time. While he has handled Morocco before, he has never refereed a senior match for France. 

Why has FIFA’s appointment of an all-Argentine officiating crew sparked discussion?

The choice to use an all-Argentine crew for this match has caused a lot of debate on social media platforms. France and Argentina share a very intense football rivalry that grew after their legendary battle in the 2022 World Cup final. Because the Argentinian national team is still alive in the 2026 tournament and could face France later on, some fans raised eyebrows and worried about a potential lack of neutrality. 

Despite the noisy complaints from supporters online, the French team has completely downplayed any worries about bias. French backup goalkeeper Robin Risser spoke to the media before the match and told fans not to become paranoid about the situation.

He explained that if these referees were selected by FIFA for the quarterfinals, it is simply because they have the high skills needed for this level of competition. French defender Dayot Upamecano also told reporters that the team never focuses on who the referee is and will only focus on beating Morocco.