Who Is the Referee In Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador World Cup Game?

Ivory Coast and Ecuador meet in their opening Group E match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For Ivory Coast, the tournament presents an opportunity to reach the knockout stage for the first time in the nation's history. Ecuador, meanwhile, will be aiming to improve on its Round of 16 finish in 2006.

While Germany are expected to top Group E, Ivory Coast and Ecuador will both see this match as a chance to solidify their chances of going past the group stage.

Referee and Officials for Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador

The match will be officiated by French referee François Letexier.

Letexier was not originally scheduled to take charge of the fixture. English referee Michael Oliver had initially been appointed but was forced to withdraw because of a minor injury. FIFA subsequently named Letexier as his replacement.

The Group E encounter marks Letexier's first appearance as a referee at a FIFA World Cup.

The 37-year-old has established himself as one of Europe's leading officials in recent years. During the 2025-26 season, he officiated 18 Ligue 1 matches in France and also took charge of games in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Saudi Pro League and UAE Pro League.

The full officiating team for the match is:

Referee: Francois Letexier (France)

Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier (France)

Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni (France)

Fourth Official: Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)

Reserve Assistant Referee: Mohammed Al-Abakry (Saudi Arabia)

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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 3:45 PM.