English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor will not be allowed to officiate any match involving Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, despite being among the tournament's top referees, due to political and geopolitical considerations linked to the legacy of the Falklands War.

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

This is because FIFA regulations prohibit referees from officiating matches involving their own national teams, to maintain neutrality and avoid conflicts of interest. For English referees, the ban 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, lasting 74 days between the United Kingdom and Argentina, ending with the surrender of Argentine forces and the islands returning to British control.

The war resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers, in addition to three islanders. The issue remains sensitive in Argentina, with President Javier Milei repeatedly reaffirming 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 with political or historical disputes with another country is not assigned to officiate matches involving that national team, 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 progress of the referee's national team in the tournament.

For this reason, English referees were not candidates to officiate any match in England's group during the group stage, and they will also not be candidates to officiate the Switzerland-Argentina quarter-final, because the winner could face England in the semi-final if England beats Norway.

Principle applied in club competitions as well

The same principle 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 doubts.

Thus, Michael Oliver does not officiate Newcastle United or Sunderland matches, as he hails from northeast England.

Final decision

The refereeing appointments are 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 levels of integrity and impartiality in the tournament.