News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. World Cup World Cup At first glance, they seem like two of the strongest candidates to officiate the final of the 2026 World Cup. However, Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor may see that dream slip away for reasons that have little to do with the football played on the pitch. The two English referees risk being excluded from FIFA’s selections for one of the semi-finals and the final if England and/or Argentina remain in the competition. If the English national team reaches the semi-finals, the explanation is simple: FIFA regulations prevent a referee from officiating matches involving their own country. But even if England is eliminated, the scenario may remain unchanged. The reason dates back to 1982, the year the Falklands War began between the United Kingdom and Argentina. Although the conflict ended 44 years ago, FIFA continues to avoid appointing English referees for matches involving the Argentine national team to prevent potential controversies or discomfort between the parties involved. The war, which lasted 74 days, ended with a British victory and remains a sensitive topic in Argentina, where the claim for sovereignty over the islands continues to be a political issue. This situation is not unprecedented. In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Anthony Taylor was considered one of the favorites to officiate the final, but Argentina’s presence in the decisive match against France led FIFA to remove his name from the list. In addition to technical quality and physical condition, FIFA takes geopolitical factors into account when appointing refereeing teams for major matches. That is why, at this stage of the tournament, Oliver and Taylor depend not only on their performance but also on the results of England and Argentina to keep alive the possibility of officiating the final.
Read more in football news. and related tags: World Cup, Michael Oliver.