🔥 Trending Who is Ivan Barton, the referee for the France vs. Spain World Cup semi-final?

Iván Arcides Barton Cisneros, commonly known as Iván Barton, is a prominent Salvadoran football referee who has gained significant international recognition, particularly for his officiating at major FIFA tournaments ¹⁴. As of July 2026, he is officiating high-profile matches in the FIFA World Cup ².

Key Facts About Iván Barton

• Nationality: Salvadoran ¹⁵
• Birth Date: January 27, 1991 ¹
• FIFA Referee Status: International referee for FIFA since 2018 ¹
• Domestic League: Also officiates in the Primera División de El Salvador ¹

Career Highlights and Recent Appointments

Barton has steadily risen through the ranks of international football officiating, becoming one of CONCACAF's most recognizable referees ⁴. His career is marked by appointments to FIFA's biggest tournaments.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Officiating

Iván Barton has been confirmed as the referee for the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match between France and Spain ²³⁵. This prestigious appointment highlights his standing in the global refereeing community. The match is being held in Dallas ⁵.

Other World Cup 2026 Matches

Prior to the semi-final, Barton also officiated other matches in the 2026 World Cup, including a Round of 16 clash between Switzerland and Colombia ⁸. This marks his third match at the tournament ⁸.

Reputation and Style

Barton is known for his strict enforcement of rules and his handling of highly competitive matches ⁷. His officiating has occasionally drawn attention for his implementation of stoppage time and his overall approach to contentious situations ⁷. For the France vs. Spain semi-final, Tomasz Kwiatkowski is serving as the lead video assistant referee (VAR) ³.