Who is Ivan Barton? Meet the referee officiating France vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final

Ivan Barton is the only Salvadoran referee at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Salvadoran Ivan Barton is confirmed to officiate the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final opening clash between France and Spain. He will be managing his fourth game of the tournament, cementing his stature as one of the most experienced North American referees.

David Morán and Antonio Pupiro will be his assistants for the game. The three men have worked together for several high-profile matches in the World Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the Gold Cup.

The match will mark a significant milestone for Ivan Barton. He will become the first Salvadoran referee to officiate a World semi-final encounter.

Ivan Barton has handled three games so far in the newest edition, including the group stage encounter between Turkey and Paraguay. In that game, he made a historic decision by issuing the tournament’s first-ever straight red card under FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule. Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón was sent off after covering his mouth during an exchange with Turkish defender Mert Müldür.

The decision caused massive chaos, leading to heavy protests by the Paraguayan players and staff. Meanwhile, many also praised him for his strict implementation. Additionally, for standing his ground on the new rule and not revoking it.

Who is Ivan Barton?

Ivan Barton was born in Santa Ana, El Salvador, in 1991. He received his international FIFA badge in 2018 at the age of 27. Apart from his refereeing career, Barton holds a degree in Chemical Sciences from the University of El Salvador, having previously worked as a professor.

He has managed several high-profile matches in his career. It includes being part of the FIFA Club World Cup 2022 officiating crew and as the main referee of the CONCACAF Nations League Final in 2023 between rivals USA and Mexico. In the latter, he issued four cards in the game.

Ivan Barton’s World Cup Record?

By officiating the France vs Spain game, Ivan Barton will be managing his seventh career game at the FIFA World Cup. His first World Cup match as the head referee in the tournament came in the 2022 edition. He officiated the group stage clash between Germany and Japan, with the Asian giants securing a historic 2-1 win.

In the FIFA World Cup 2026, he has refereed three games so far. Ivan Barton’s first game was the group stage fixture between Turkey and Paraguay, with Paraguay winning 1-0. He then officiated in a 1-1 draw between Japan and Sweden, followed by Switzerland’s dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory against Colombia in the Round of 16.

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