Iván Barton is the France vs Spain referee for tonight’s World Cup semi-final. The Salvadoran makes history simply by walking out at AT&T Stadium.
Barton, 35, becomes the first Central American to referee a World Cup semi-final, and the youngest CONCACAF official ever trusted with one. Kick-off is 8pm UK time in Dallas, where compatriot David Morán and Nicaragua’s Henry Pupiro run the lines and Sweden’s Glenn Nyberg is fourth official. A place in Sunday’s final is at stake, along with top billing in the World Cup winner odds. As a result, every call will carry weight.
| Name | Iván Barton |
| Born | 27 January 1991, Santa Ana, El Salvador (age 35) |
| FIFA referee since | 2018 |
| Domestic league | Salvadoran Primera División |
| Matches officiated | 280 |
| Yellow cards | 1,442 (5.15 per game) |
| Red cards | 132 (0.47 per game) |
| Penalties awarded | 133 (0.48 per game) |
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 14 July 2026.
Who is Iván Barton?
Born in Santa Ana in 1991, Barton rose through El Salvador’s Primera División and earned his FIFA badge in 2018. Away from the pitch, he lectures in organic chemistry at the University of El Salvador. His refereeing CV has built steadily, though — a Gold Cup, the Club World Cup, the Olympics and two World Cups.
His domestic numbers are eye-watering. He averages 5.15 yellow cards per game across 280 matches, per Transfermarkt — more than Facundo Tello, the strictest of the quarter-final officials. In addition, his 132 red cards and 133 penalties both work out at nearly one every two games. In short, Salvadoran football is a combustible place.
Iván Barton World Cup record
| World Cup matches | 6 (three at Qatar 2022, three in 2026) |
| Yellow cards | 13 (2.17 per game) |
| Red cards | 1 (Miguel Almirón, Türkiye vs Paraguay, 2026) |
| Penalties awarded | 1 |
World Cup record courtesy of Transfermarkt.
Tonight will be Barton’s seventh World Cup match. He first refereed three games at Qatar 2022 on his tournament debut. Here he has taken Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay, Japan 1-1 Sweden and Switzerland’s shoot-out win over Colombia in the round of 16, which ran through 120 goalless minutes. Notably, the Japan game was played at AT&T Stadium — tonight’s venue.
The Paraguay match brought a slice of World Cup history. Barton sent off Miguel Almirón for covering his mouth during a confrontation — reportedly the first dismissal of its kind. In fact, it remains his only red card in six World Cup games. He has never refereed France or Spain at a major tournament.
France vs Spain referee: what can both sides expect?
Tournament Barton is a different animal from domestic Barton. His World Cup rate of 2.17 yellows per game is less than half his career figure, and he let Switzerland vs Colombia breathe through extra time with five bookings. However, the Almirón red shows he will act on a flashpoint, and his domestic record suggests little patience for dissent. Both camps have selection calls to weigh too. Our France vs Spain team news and possible lineups cover those.
There is no nationality subplot in Dallas, either. El Salvador have no stake in the outcome, and the France vs Spain referee appointment drew praise across CONCACAF rather than complaints. Interestingly, both sides met his colleagues on the way here — Tello refereed France’s quarter-final, while Michael Oliver took Spain’s. Either way, the chemistry professor faces the biggest experiment of his career.
FAQs
Not at a major tournament. His six World Cup matches, plus his Gold Cup, Club World Cup and Olympic appointments, have all involved other nations. As a result, tonight is his first taste of either side.
Six — three at Qatar 2022 and three at this tournament, including Switzerland’s shoot-out win over Colombia in the round of 16. France vs Spain is his seventh, and his first World Cup semi-final.
Iván Barton is supported by assistant referees David Morán of El Salvador and Henry Pupiro of Nicaragua. Sweden’s Glenn Nyberg is the fourth official, with compatriot Mahbod Beigi the reserve assistant.
Of course, the whistle is only part of the story. Our France vs Spain predictions and best bets cover the betting angle. You can also follow every call in our France vs Spain match centre.