FIFA has given one of South America's most experienced referees, Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela, another high-profile international job, as he will be in charge of the third place playoff between France and England for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Valenzuela has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2013 and has served as a referee in the FIFA World Cup, Copa América, Copa Libertadores, FIFA Club World Cup, and many CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.
He is highly regarded by FIFA and CONMEBOL, but has sparked controversy among fans and commentators in games involving VAR reviews, penalty calls and disciplinary action. His selection for the bronze-medal bout will mean that all of his major decisions will be under the microscope again.
Jesus Valenzuela's Biggest Refereeing Controversies
Valenzuela has earned a reputation for letting games run, but it's not always been a popular strategy.
His actions in the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been the subject of debate among fans for various fouls and disciplinary infractions, and his management of matches in Copa América and Copa Libertadores has also raised questions from players and coaches.
Valenzuela has officiated almost 400 professional matches, issuing over 1,900 yellow cards, over 100 red cards, and over 100 penalties in his career, according to referee statistics compiled by Squawka, which show his experience and willingness to make tough calls.
Has Jesus Valenzuela Officiated England or France Matches Before?
Valenzuela has played on both teams before. He was the man in charge of England's 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage draw with the United States and then France's 3-1 win over Poland in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
He has already been appointed for a few games at the 2026 World Cup, including Australia vs. Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, and Norway vs. Ivory Coast.
His familiarity with many of the players—including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Michael Olise—means Saturday's third-place playoff will not be his first encounter with the tournament's biggest stars.
