World Cup 2026: 5 things to know about François Letexier, referee of Egypt – Argentina

07.07.26 FT World Cup

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Egypt faces a historic challenge as they take on Argentina this Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. GMT at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, in the round of 16 of the World Cup. The match will be officiated by French referee François Letexier.

While his appointment has drawn criticism from the Argentine press due to the rivalry with France, Letexier remains one of the top referees in recent years. Here are five key facts about the man in black who will be in charge tonight.

- Born on April 23, 1989, in Bédée (37 years old), François Letexier has been a FIFA referee since 2017. He has officiated in the French league for ten years and boasts more than 400 matches to his name.

- He took charge of his first international match on March 23, 2018, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria. He also refereed the Youth Champions League final between Porto and Chelsea in 2019.

- He also officiated the French Cup final between PSG and Monaco in 2021, as well as the UEFA Super Cup final between Manchester City and Sevilla on August 16, 2023.

- The most memorable match of his career remains the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England.

- François Letexier was the VAR referee for the 2021 Europa League final between Villarreal and Manchester United. He also took charge of three matches at the 2021 Euro U21, including the quarter-final between Portugal and Italy.

All these high-profile assignments have made him a seasoned referee, fully capable of ensuring the smooth running of this encounter, which will see Lionel Messi face off against Mohamed Salah.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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