The Group B opener between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup will be overseen by one of South America’s most recognizable officials, Argentine referee Facundo Tello.
FIFA selected an experienced officiating team for the match at Toronto’s BMO Field, with Tello leading a crew that includes many fellow Argentinians.
Main Referee Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Facundo Tello
Facundo Raúl Tello Figueroa is one of Argentina’s leading referees and one of the most authoritative officials in South American football.
- Age: 44
- Nationality: Argentina
- FIFA badge since: 2019
- Major tournaments: 2022 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2024, FIFA Arab Cup, Copa Libertadores, Copa América
After making his debut in Argentina’s top league in 2013, Tello quickly became a regular choice for the big matches, including the heated Superclásico ones between River Plate and Boca Juniors.
Career Acheivements
Tello’s international profile has grown rapidly over the past several years.
He was added to FIFA’s international referees list in 2019 and later earned selection for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. One of his highest-profile assignments came during Morocco’s historic quarterfinal victory over Portugal.
He became the first Argentinian and non-UEFA referee to take charge of a game at this European Championship.
Refereeing Style and Disciplinary Record
Tello is known for taking a firm approach to match management.
Throughout his career, he has averaged 4.75 yellow cards and 0.13 red cards per match and has never been reluctant to punish dissent or reckless challenges.
The most famous match of his career came in November 2022 during the Argentine Champions Trophy final between Boca Juniors and Racing Club.
Following a chaotic confrontation between players near the end of the match, Tello showed an astonishing 10 red cards. The incident made headlines around the world and eventually forced the game to end early after Boca no longer had enough players available to continue.
Despite his reputation for being strict in South American domestic football, Tello’s performances in international tournaments have generally been more restrained. During Euro 2024, he completed all of his assignments without issuing a single red card.
Full Refereeing Team for World Cup Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
FIFA has appointed the following officiating crew for the Group B encounter:
- Referee: Facundo Tello (Argentina)
- Assistant Referee 1: Juan Pablo Belatti (Argentina)
- Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade (Argentina)
- Fourth Official: Khalid Al Turais (Saudi Arabia)
- VAR: Hernan Mastrangelo (Argentina)
Referees have already become a major talking point at the 2026 World Cup after Brazilian official Wilton Pereira Sampaio showed 3 red cards during Mexico's 2-0 win over South Africa. The decision was heavily debated and made the match the most card-heavy opener in World Cup history. For comparison, only 4 red cards were shown across the entire 2022 tournament in Qatar.
