Francois Letexier to Officiate Ivory Coast's Match Against Ecuador

Ivory Coast's opening match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Ecuador will be officiated by Francois Letexier from France. This change comes as English referee Michael Oliver was ruled out due to an injury. Oliver, 41, was originally appointed to oversee the Group E encounter scheduled for Sunday in Philadelphia, but he had to be replaced following the injury he sustained. FIFA confirmed the referee change on Saturday, stating that the experienced English official is expected to return to the available referees "in the coming days."

Letexier will now take charge of this significant fixture as Ivory Coast embarks on its World Cup journey. Oliver, noted for his extensive experience, is one of six English on-field officials selected for the tournament, alongside fellow referee Anthony Taylor. The assistant referees representing England are Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn, Stuart Burt, and James Mainwaring.

Michael Oliver has been a notable figure in refereeing since he joined the Premier League in 2010 and became part of UEFA's elite list in 2018. His impressive credentials include officiating at the 2022 World Cup, where he managed the quarter-final match between Croatia and Brazil, as well as games at Euro 2024.

The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup features a diverse group of officials, comprising 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials from various countries, overseeing matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.