Michael Oliver, Francois Letexier, FIFA
13 June 2026
Michael Oliver has been ruled out of his first 2026 World Cup match because of injury. The English referee was due to oversee Ivory Coast against Ecuador in Philadelphia, but FIFA has replaced him with French official Francois Letexier.
FIFA said Oliver is expected to be available again in the coming days, limiting concern over his tournament role. The change still matters because Oliver is one of six English on-field officials selected for the World Cup.