Letexier to officiate Argentina-Egypt World Cup round of 16 clash

FIFA has appointed French referee François Letexier to oversee the Argentina vs. Egypt round of 16 match at the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta Source: ClarinSource: Infobae.

The appointment

Letexier, 37, will be assisted by compatriots Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni, with Norwegian Espen Eskas as fourth official Source: Clarin. This will be his third match of the tournament, having previously officiated Ivory Coast's win over Ecuador and a goalless draw between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia Source: Infobae.

Background and style

Letexier rose through the ranks quickly, debuting in Ligue 1 at 27 and earning FIFA status by 2017 Source: Clarin. He notably refereed the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England, becoming the youngest to do so Source: Clarin. Off the pitch, he works as a judicial officer in France, a role he says helps him make decisions under pressure Source: Clarin.

Controversial history

The appointment comes with a notable precedent: Letexier officiated a Champions League match where Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse, which later resulted in a six-match ban Source: Infobae. Additionally, he sent off Argentina defender Nicolás Tagliafico during a Ligue 1 match in March . These incidents may raise concerns for the Argentine camp, though Letexier is generally regarded as a calm, dialogue-oriented referee .