Jesús Valenzuela is the France vs England referee for Saturday’s World Cup third-place play-off. The Venezuelan has already refereed both of these sides on this stage.
Valenzuela, 42, takes charge at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with kick-off at 10pm UK time. Compatriots Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno run the lines. Only a bronze medal is at stake, though for two sides who came within a game of the final, pride will do the motivating. As a result, his handling of the night still matters.
| Name | Jesús Valenzuela |
| Born | 24 November 1983, Portuguesa, Venezuela (age 42) |
| FIFA referee since | 2013 |
| Venezuelan top-flight referee since | 2011 |
| Matches officiated | 388 |
| Yellow cards | 1,909 (4.92 per game) |
| Red cards | 115 (0.30 per game) |
| Penalties awarded | 107 (0.28 per game) |
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 17 July 2026.
Who is Jesús Valenzuela?
Born in Portuguesa in 1983, Valenzuela has refereed in Venezuela’s top flight since 2011. His FIFA badge followed in 2013. He has since taken in two Copa Américas, the sharp end of the Copa Libertadores and two World Cups. In 2021, the IFFHS named him CONMEBOL’s referee of the year.
His domestic numbers run hot, as South American officials’ tend to. He averages 4.92 yellow cards per game across 388 matches, per Transfermarkt — more than Facundo Tello, and behind only Iván Barton among the officials of this knockout stage. In addition, his 115 red cards work out at 0.30 per game.
Jesús Valenzuela World Cup record
| World Cup matches | 5 (two at Qatar 2022, three in 2026) |
| Yellow cards | 7 (1.40 per game) |
| Red cards | 0 |
| Penalties awarded | 1 |
World Cup record courtesy of Transfermarkt.
Saturday will be Valenzuela’s sixth World Cup match — and he knows both teams already. At Qatar 2022 he refereed England‘s goalless draw with the United States in the group stage. He then took France‘s 3-1 win over Poland in the round of 16, where his penalty award let Robert Lewandowski score deep into stoppage time.
At this World Cup he has taken Australia 2-0 Türkiye, Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar and Norway’s 2-1 comeback win over Côte d’Ivoire in the round of 32. In fact, those three games produced just four yellow cards between them. Notably, he has never shown a red card at a World Cup.
France vs England referee: what can both sides expect?
A light touch, on the evidence. Valenzuela’s World Cup rate of 1.40 yellows per game is barely a quarter of his domestic figure, and no player has seen red from him at this level. Naturally, that suits a bronze-medal match both managers will half-treat as a send-off. However, his South American caseload means he is no soft touch if a game turns spiteful. Both camps will rotate too. Our France vs England team news and predicted lineups cover the likely changes.
There is no neutrality question in Miami, because Venezuela’s interest ended long ago. Still, the France vs England referee brings a neat symmetry to the occasion. Valenzuela took England’s dullest night of Qatar 2022 and one of France’s brightest; Saturday decides which version of this fixture turns up. Our stats you might see in France vs England feature picks out the numbers that could settle it.
FAQs
Yes — both, at Qatar 2022. He refereed England’s 0-0 draw with the United States in the group stage and France’s 3-1 round-of-16 win over Poland. However, Saturday is his first time taking the two together.
Five — England vs USA and France vs Poland at Qatar 2022, then Australia vs Türkiye, Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Qatar and Côte d’Ivoire vs Norway in 2026. France vs England is his sixth.
Jesús Valenzuela is supported by Venezuelan assistant referees Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno. In addition, FIFA will confirm the fourth official and video officials closer to kick-off.
Of course, the whistle is only part of the story. Our France vs England predictions and best bets cover the betting angle. You can also follow every call in our France vs England match centre.