FIFA Appoints Argentine Officials for France vs. Morocco

FIFA has announced the officiating crew for the quarter-final match between France and Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place in Boston, Massachusetts. Facundo Tello will serve as the central referee, with Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade assisting him.

Dario Herrera has been appointed as the fourth official, while Cristian Navarro will serve as the reserve assistant referee. This decision has sparked debate on social media regarding the appropriateness of appointing officials from a country that is not involved in the match.

FIFA maintains its long-standing practice of assigning officiating teams from different countries to matches, provided they do not involve their own national teams. Tello's appointment comes amid scrutiny of officiating decisions in the tournament, including a controversial incident involving U.S. forward Folarin Balogun.

Tello has a history of contentious officiating, having issued a record 10 red cards during the 2022 Trofeo de Campeón final.