Injured referee Michael Oliver to miss World Cup match
Short overview
English referee Michael Oliver has been ruled out of his first match at the 2026 World Cup due to injury. He was replaced by French official Francois Letexier for the Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador group stage match. FIFA expects Oliver to be available for selection in the coming days.
English referee Michael Oliver has been ruled out of his first match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury, tournament organizers confirmed. The 41-year-old was scheduled to officiate the Group E encounter between Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Philadelphia on Sunday (00:00 BST, Monday). He has been replaced by French referee Francois Letexier.
Injury and recovery timeline
FIFA stated that Oliver is expected to be available for selection “in the coming days,” suggesting the injury is not severe. The exact nature of the injury has not been disclosed. Oliver’s absence is a temporary setback for the English officiating contingent at the tournament.
English officials at the 2026 World Cup
Oliver is one of six English on-field officials at the World Cup, with Anthony Taylor also among the 52 referees selected. The English assistant referees at the tournament are Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn, Stuart Burt, and James Mainwaring. The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, features 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials.
Oliver’s officiating career
Michael Oliver has been a Premier League referee since 2010 and was promoted to UEFA’s elite list of referees in 2018. He officiated at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including the quarter-final between Croatia and Brazil, and also worked at Euro 2024. His experience at major tournaments makes him a key figure in the English officiating team.
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