English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor will not be able to officiate any match involving the Argentine national team in the 2026 World Cup, despite being among the tournament's top referees, due to political and geopolitical considerations related to the legacy of the Falklands War.

According to The Athletic, Oliver will officiate the Spain vs. Belgium match in the quarterfinals, making it his seventh game of the tournament—the most matches an English referee has officiated in a single World Cup edition. However, his chances of taking charge of the final appear very slim.

This is because FIFA regulations prevent referees from officiating matches involving their own national teams, to maintain neutrality and avoid conflicts of interest. However, for English referees, the ban also extends to Argentina matches due to the historical dispute between the two countries over the Falkland Islands.

Legacy of the Falklands War

The Falklands War broke out in 1982 and lasted 74 days between the United Kingdom and Argentina, ending with the surrender of Argentine forces and the islands returning to British control.

The war left 649 Argentine soldiers and 255 British soldiers dead, in addition to three island residents. The issue remains a sensitive matter in Argentina, where President Javier Milei continuously reaffirms his country's claim to sovereignty over the islands.

How does FIFA select referees?

FIFA appoints referees for each match separately, taking into account a range of factors, including geopolitical considerations.

Under this policy, a referee from a country that has political or historical disputes with another country is not assigned to officiate a match involving that national team, in order to avoid any suspicion of bias or conflict of interest.

This is not limited to England and Argentina; the same rule can apply to other disputes, such as not assigning matches involving Iran to referees from the United States, or vice versa.

Not just national team matches

These criteria also extend to matches that could directly affect the referee's national team's progress in the tournament.

For this reason, English referees were not candidates to officiate any match in England's group during the group stage, nor will they be candidates to officiate the Switzerland vs. Argentina quarterfinal, because the winner could face England in the semifinals if England advances past Norway.

Principle also applied in club tournaments

The same idea applies in club competitions. In the English Premier League, referees are prohibited from officiating matches of clubs from their home regions or those with which they have connections that could raise suspicions.

That is why Michael Oliver does not officiate Newcastle United or Sunderland matches, as he hails from the northeast of England.

The final decision

The appointment of referees is overseen by a team led by Pierluigi Collina, who has the final say in selecting officiating crews for each match, taking into account technical, geographical, and political aspects to ensure the highest degrees of integrity and impartiality in the tournament.