The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has appointed Venezuelan Jesús Valenzuela as the referee for the World Cup third-place match, which will pit France against England.

Valenzuela will be assisted by his compatriots Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno, with Moroccan Jalal Jid as the fourth official and his compatriot Zakaria Brinsi as the reserve assistant referee.

The website Ouest-France reported that Valenzuela's appointment brings back positive memories for the French national team, as the Venezuelan referee previously officiated one of Les Bleus' matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He also officiated the match between Ivory Coast and Norway in the round of 32 during the current edition of the World Cup.

The French national team will face their English counterparts, who lost to Argentina 2-1 in the semifinals, in a match where both sides aim to end their tournament participation by winning the bronze medal.

The match officials for @FIFAWorldCup Bronze Final have been appointed. 🤝 — FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 16, 2026