Read 4 minutesUpdated: 9 July 2026 09:09 PM IST
France vs Morocco, FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals: A replay of one of the 2022 World Cup semi-finals is set to take place again at Boston Stadium on Thursday night, when two-time champions France take on the ever-sober Morocco.
FIFA has confirmed that the game between the two will feature an all-Argentine match official lineup, led by head referee Facundo Tello, who is set to officiate the game.
Also read | Here’s how France is reacting to an all-Argentine referee lineup for the World Cup quarter-finals
The decision has sparked controversy online between fans of Argentina and France, as they still have a bitter rivalry from the 2022 World Cup finals and the two nations are likely to meet again in this year’s final.
This edition of the World Cup will be the first time that a game will have match officials from a single country. The appointment comes as a result of FIFA’s selection exercise of the most experienced referees for the tournament’s crucial knockout stages.
An all-Argentine official crew Selected by FIFA c to officiate the much-awaited 2026 World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco.The following list of referees is insisted upon:
- Referee: Facundo Tello
- Assistant Referee 1: Juan Pablo Bellatti
- Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chede
- Fourth Officer: Dario Herrera
- Reserve Assistant Referee: Christian Navarro
Find out more about the referees for the France vs Morocco quarter-final
Facundo Tello
The 44-year-old Argentine has been a referee at FIFA since 2019 and is officiating his second tournament after making his debut at the Qatar World Cup four years ago, Hespress reported.
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Tello has done sports work at some of the major football tournaments including two FIFA World Cups, UEFA Euro 2024, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
Facundo Tello is known for his strict refereeing style and willingness to issue disciplinary sanctions when necessary. His name became famous around the world after the 2022 Argentina Champions Trophy final between Boca Juniors and Racing Club, where he showed 10 red cards and the match was thrown into chaos.
Moroccan fans will remember him from the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, when he scored in a 1-0 win over Portugal, which saw an African team reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Juan Pablo Baletti and Gabriel Chad (assistant referees)
Juan Baletti has a deep World Cup legacy. By winning his fourth consecutive World Cup as an official in 2026, he is making history as the most active assistant referee of all time. He is the only member of this crew to have shared the pitch with France in a World Cup final in 2018, during France’s 4–2 victory over Croatia.
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Gabriel Cheid has been a listed official with FIFA since 2016. He and Bellatti have played together on the touchline in numerous CONMEBOL tournaments and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. He was also an assistant referee during the Portugal vs Morocco match in 2022.
Dario Herrera (Fourth Official)
Dario Herrera has been a listed official at FIFA since 2015. He is best known as an important referee in Argentine football where he refereed seven matches between Boca Juniors and River Plate until May 2026. He also officiated in the match between Belgium and Iran in this World Cup.
Cristian Navarro (Reserve Assistant Referee)
It is the piece that completes all of Argentina’s crew for the game.
Written by Madhav Sachdeva, intern at Online Sports Desk.