Published On 9/7/2026
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) chose Argentine referee Facundo Tio to officiate the match between France and Morocco in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, in a decision that aroused interest, especially after the Argentina-Egypt match in the 16-final was assigned to French referee François Letexier.
Teo is 44 years old, and is considered one of the most prominent referees in South America, as he began officiating Argentine Premier League matches in 2013, and received the international badge in 2019.
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Theo marks his second participation in the World Cup finals, after officiating three matches in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, including the confrontation between Morocco and Portugal in the quarter-finals, which saw Moroccan striker Walid Chedira sent off after receiving two warnings in stoppage time.
In the 2026 World Cup, he has so far managed the matches of Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, then South Africa and South Korea in the group stage.
10 red cards
Facundo Tio is best known for officiating the Argentine Champions Cup match between Boca Juniors and Racing in November 2022, which turned into one of the most controversial matches.
After clashes between the players of the two teams in the last minutes, the referee issued 10 red cards, including five to Boca Juniors players, ending the match after the team now included less than the legal number of players.
During his refereeing career, he officiated more than 400 matches, during which he issued more than two thousand yellow cards and 75 direct red cards.
Messi fan
The Argentine referee does not hide his admiration for his compatriot Lionel Messi, as he previously stated: “If some people support their clubs like crazy, then I support Messi in the same way.”
Despite his fame, Teo prefers to stay away from social media, and lives with his family in the city of Bahía Blanca, preferring to settle far away from the capital, Buenos Aires.
Yoga and meditation are part of his daily routine
The Argentine referee confirms that maintaining calm on the field requires mental preparation in addition to physical preparation.
He explained in previous statements that he relies on yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises, in addition to psychological follow-up, to help him deal with pressure and make decisions in big matches.
He also follows an integrated physical program developed by FIFA, which includes physical therapy, nutrition, and physical and cognitive training.
A new test in a big match
The match between France and Morocco will be the second match managed by Facundo Tio in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, in a confrontation that is expected to witness great competition on the field.
He will be assisted by an entirely Argentine refereeing team, which includes Juan Pablo Pilati and Gabriel Chadi as assistants, Dario Herrera as the fourth referee, and Cristian Navarro as the video assistant referee (VAR).
