French referees Letexier and Turpin selected for 2026 FIFA World Cup
French referees François Letexier and Clément Turpin have been selected by FIFA to officiate at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The global governing body announced its list of 52 centre referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials on Thursday, with France one of only six nations to have two referees included in the prestigious tournament.
French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo welcomed the news in an official statement. "This double selection is excellent news for French refereeing and, more broadly, for our football," Diallo said. "We can be proud to count among us two of the best referees in the world. The confidence shown by FIFA reflects the quality of French refereeing, sometimes criticized at the national level but widely recognized on the international scene."
For Clément Turpin, the appointment marks a historic achievement. The 41-year-old will become only the second French referee to officiate at three separate World Cup tournaments, following in the footsteps of Joël Quiniou, who took charge of matches in 1986, 1990, and 1994. Turpin was previously selected for the 2018 tournament in Russia and the 2022 edition in Qatar.
François Letexier, 35, will be making his World Cup debut, a significant step in the career of one of UEFA's most promising young officials. Letexier has built a strong reputation in European club competitions and was the referee for the 2023 UEFA Super Cup final between Manchester City and Sevilla.
The selection also includes significant French representation in other officiating roles. Jérôme Brisard has been named as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR), while Nicolas Danos, Cyril Mugnier, Benjamin Pagès, and Mehdi Rahmouni will all serve as assistant referees during the expanded 48-team tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, featuring 104 matches across 16 host cities. This scale necessitates FIFA's largest-ever pool of match officials, tasked with managing a competition that will see a significant increase in logistical complexity and scrutiny. The selection of Turpin and Letexier underscores France's continued influence in the upper echelons of international refereeing, despite periodic domestic controversies over officiating standards in Ligue 1.
For Turpin, this likely represents a final World Cup assignment, cementing his legacy as one of his generation's top officials. For Letexier, it is a major career breakthrough that positions him as a leading figure for future major tournaments. Their appointments ensure a strong French presence on the field during a World Cup where the French national team will be among the favourites to lift the trophy.
