Referee Michael Oliver Injured, Replaced for 2026 World Cup Match
English referee Michael Oliver was withdrawn from officiating the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Philadelphia due to a minor injury. French referee François Letexier replaced him, with new assistant referees also appointed. FIFA confirmed Oliver is expected to be available again soon. The match is part of the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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2026 World Cup: François Letexier Impresses in Debut as Referee for Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador
François Letexier, a 37-year-old French referee, made a successful World Cup debut officiating the Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador Group F match in Philadelphia on June 15, 2026. The match ended 1-0 with a late goal by Amad Diallo. Letexier, who was a last-minute replacement for the injured Michael Oliver, issued four yellow cards—three to Ivorian players (Seko Fofana, Franck Kessié, Guéla Doué) and one to Ecuador's Jackson Porozo—none of which drew significant controversy. He also applied a new IFAB rule twice, requiring players Moises Caicedo and Joel Ordonez to leave the field for one minute after remaining on the ground following contact. Accompanied by assistants Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni, Letexier's performance was praised for its technical mastery and lack of controversy. He is expected to referee again during the tournament. Fellow French referee Clément Turpin is scheduled to officiate England vs. Croatia on May 18.
Home Football - actualitésFrançois Letexier Delivers Strong Performance in First World Cup Match
French referee François Letexier, 37, officiated his first World Cup match on Sunday evening, taking charge of Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (1-0) after replacing injured English referee Michael Oliver at the last moment. Despite missing a corner kick for Ecuador in the 16th minute without VAR intervention, Letexier applied new World Cup rules effectively. He twice enforced a directive requiring players who remain on the ground after contact to leave the field for one minute, targeting Ecuador's Moises Caicedo and Joel Ordonez. He also issued four justified yellow cards: three to Ivorians Seko Fofana, Franck Kessié, and Guéla Doué in the first half, and one to Ecuadorian substitute Jackson Porozo in the second half. The article notes Letexier's prior experience includes a European Championship final and a Europa League final, and his performance suggests he will be selected for further matches in the tournament.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuInjured Referee Michael Oliver to Miss Ivory Coast vs Ecuador World Cup Match
English referee Michael Oliver, 41, has been ruled out of officiating the 2026 World Cup Group E match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Philadelphia due to injury. He has been replaced by French referee Francois Letexier. FIFA stated that Oliver is expected to be available for selection in the coming days. Oliver, a Premier League referee since 2010 and a UEFA elite list member since 2018, previously officiated at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024. He is one of six English on-field officials at the tournament, which includes 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
BBC SportInjured Referee Michael Oliver to Miss Ivory Coast vs Ecuador World Cup Match
English referee Michael Oliver has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup Group E match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Philadelphia due to injury. The 41-year-old, who was scheduled to officiate the game on Sunday, has been replaced by French referee Francois Letexier. FIFA stated that Oliver is expected to be available for selection in the coming days. Oliver is one of six English on-field officials at the tournament, which includes 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials. He has been a Premier League referee since 2010 and was promoted to UEFA's elite list in 2018. Oliver previously officiated at the 2022 World Cup, including the quarter-final between Croatia and Brazil, and at Euro 2024.
BBC SportFrançois Letexier Appointed to Referee Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador at 2026 World Cup
French referee François Letexier has been appointed to officiate the 2026 World Cup Group E match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador, replacing the injured English referee Michael Oliver. The match is scheduled for the early hours of Monday (1:00 AM). Letexier, 37, is making his World Cup debut after officiating 189 Ligue 1 matches. He was named Best Ligue 1 Referee in 2023 and 2024, and has refereed major finals including the Euro 2024 final and the Europa League final won by Aston Villa. He is one of two French referees selected for the 2026 World Cup, alongside Clément Turpin.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuMichael Oliver replaced for World Cup match due to injury; FIFA confirms referee change
Premier League referee Michael Oliver has been withdrawn from his opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to a minor injury. Oliver was scheduled to officiate the Group E clash between Ecuador and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia. FIFA announced that French referee Francois Letexier will replace him, with Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni stepping in as assistant referees. Oliver's regular assistants, Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, will also miss the match. FIFA stated that Oliver is expected to be available for selection again in the coming days. The article includes background on Oliver's career, including his experience at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, and a quote from Oliver about the pressures of officiating at major tournaments.
Mirror - FootballFrench Referee François Letexier to Officiate Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador at 2026 World Cup
French referee François Letexier has been appointed to officiate the 2026 World Cup Group E match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador, scheduled for the night of Sunday, June 14 into Monday, June 15, 2026, at 1:00 AM. Letexier, who was selected alongside Clément Turpin among the French referees for the tournament, replaces English referee Michael Oliver, who suffered a minor injury. FIFA announced the change via Twitter on June 12, 2026, stating that Oliver is expected to be available for selection again in the coming days. The match is part of the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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