Turkey and Paraguay will face off in a pivotal Group Stage match during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as both teams strive to improve their prospects of advancing to the knockout stages. The players will be the focus of the game, but FIFA has also hired an experienced match official to oversee the game.
El Salvador's Iván Barton will be the referee in the Turkey vs. Paraguay match, according to FIFA's officiating assignments. Barton is one of the most familiar names in CONCACAF and has been a regular at big international tournaments.
Turkey vs. Paraguay Match Time and Venue
Turkey and Paraguay will meet in a crucial Group D clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 19, 2026, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi's Stadium) in Santa Clara, California. Both teams enter Matchday 2 looking for a positive result as the race for the knockout rounds intensifies.
Kickoff times around the world:
- United States (ET): 11:00 p.m. (June 19)
- United States (PT): 8:00 p.m. (June 19)
- United Kingdom (BST): 4:00 a.m. (June 20)
- India (IST): 8:30 a.m. (June 20)
- Brazil (BRT): 12:00 a.m. (June 20)
- Argentina: 12:00 a.m. (June 20)
- Paraguay (PYT): 12:00 a.m. (June 20)
- UAE (GST): 7:00 a.m. (June 20)
- China (CST): 11:00 a.m. (June 20)
- Japan (JST): 12:00 p.m. (June 20)
- Turkey (TRT): 6:00 a.m. (June 20)
- Australia (AEST – Sydney/Melbourne): 1:00 p.m. (June 20)
Both sides will be looking for a big game in front of a worldwide audience, as they compete for valuable points.
Who Is The Main Referee Iván Barton?
Iván Barton was born in El Salvador and is one of the best referees in North and Central American soccer. He has served as a FIFA-listed official since 2018 and has officiated many high-profile matches in CONCACAF competitions, World Cup qualifiers, and international tournaments.
Barton's name first came into the public eye in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he was appointed to officiate several games, including knockout stage matches. He is known for his professionalism and ability to run games with authority, which has garnered him praise from FIFA and soccer officials in the region.
Barton has also played in Gold Cup games, CONCACAF Nations League games and Champions Cup games over the years, and has one of the best records in the region.
Iván Barton's Career Highlights And Controversies
The highlight of Barton's career was officiating Japan's dramatic win over Germany in the World Cup group stage in 2022. He later handled Morocco's Round of 16 win over Spain, further cementing his reputation on the global stage.
Barton, like many top referees, has been criticised on a number of occasions for his disciplinary rulings and added time. But FIFA has kept its faith in the Salvadoran official, giving him the assignment to some of the biggest games in the sport.
Referee Team For Turkey Vs. Paraguay
FIFA has appointed the following officials for the match:
- Iván Barton – Main Referee
- David Morán – Assistant Referee 1
- Antonio Pupiro – Assistant Referee 2
- Oshane Nation – Fourth Official
- Caleb Wales – Reserve Assistant Referee
With Turkey and Paraguay competing for key World Cup points amid global superstars. However, it will be up to Barton and his officiating team to keep the game fair, competitive, and in check.
