Who is Hernan Mastrangelo? Argentine VAR for France vs Morocco FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash
Hernan Mastrangelo is one of six Argentine officials overseeing the France vs Morocco clash tonight.
France take on Morocco in an exciting FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 9. Les Bleus will be the heavy favourites for tonight’s match, but will expect a stern test from the in-form Atlas Lions.
While a feisty clash is expected between the two-time world champions and the African heavyweights, there was a bit of controversy when FIFA announced the lineup of officials for tonight’s match.
The global governing body announced that all five of the on-field match officials during the clash will be from Argentina. The main referee will be Facundo Tello, who is best known for brandishing 10 red cards in a 2022 match between Boca Juniors and Racing Club.
Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade will be the assistant referees. Dario Herrera is the fourth official, and Cristian Navarro is the fifth official.
The bone of contention stems from the fact that Argentina beat France in the 2022 World Cup final to lift the trophy, leading to speculation that the officials may not be entirely impartial towards Les Bleus.
Instead of diffusing the situation, FIFA doubled down by adding another Argentine official to the match, with Hernan Mastrangelo being named the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the upcoming game.
Uruguay’s Leodan Gonzalez will be the Assistant VAR (AVAR), and Nicaragua’s Tatiana Guzman will be the backup AVAR. Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alshehri is the support VAR.
Also Read: List of referees & officials for France vs Morocco
Who is Hernan Mastrangelo?
Born in 1981 in Buenos Aires to a father who was a former football referee, Mastrangelo made his professional debut as a referee in 2015. He was appointed as an official in the Argentine Primera Division two years later, and has also officiated in the Copa America.
He has been a FIFA-listed VAR since 2023 and has played that role in important matches like the 2024 Copa Libertadores final and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
He is part of the large Argentine contingent in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. He will be based in the Video Operation Room (VOR) at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in Dallas, Texas.
Interestingly, for the France vs Morocco match, the AVAR and backup AVAR will be based at the match venue in Foxborough. This is to ensure that they can take over in case of communication failure between the referee and the VAR.
Who is Hernan Mastrangelo?
He is an Argentine referee and Video Assistant Referee (VAR), who is in charge of the France vs Morocco FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.