Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio will officiate the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on Tuesday, August 29 [1, 2]. He will be assisted by fellow Brazilians Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia at the Estadio Azteca [1, 2].
Sampaio previously refereed matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and served on the VAR team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, bringing significant experience to the tournament's first fixture [1, 2].
FIFA has appointed a record 52 referees and 88 assistant referees for the expanded 48-team tournament, the largest pool of match officials in World Cup history [1, 2].
The tournament has seen some controversy as well. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, expected to become the first Somali official at a World Cup, was denied entry to the United States and thus will not participate [1, 2].
Referee assignments for each World Cup match are typically announced two to three days before the game, with FIFA confirming Sampaio's role for the opener back in June [1, 2].
The Mexico vs. South Africa match marks the start of football's global showcase, with Sampaio leading officiating duties in front of a packed Estadio Azteca and a global audience.