Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio will take charge ​of the opening match ‌of the FIFA World Cup 2026 ​between Mexico and ⁠South Africa, leading a three-man Brazil team for the curtain-raiser in ‌Mexico City.

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Compatriots Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia ‌will be Sampaio’s assistants ‌in ⁠Thursday’s (June 11, 2026) Group A ⁠inaugural clash at the Estadio Azteca.

Sampaio also officiated matches at the 2022 ​World Cup ‌in Qatar and was part of the video assistant referee (VAR) team when it ‌was introduced at the ​2018 edition in Russia. FIFA has assembled a ⁠record pool of match officials — 52 referees and 88 ‌assistant referees — for the expanded 48-team tournament. The United States has denied entry to one referee, however — Omar Abdulkadir Artan of ‌Somalia — who had been expected ​to be the first Somali to officiate at ⁠a match in the World ⁠Cup.

Referee appointments for each game are typically announced ‌two to three days in advance.