World Cup 2026: Historic role for Jérôme Brisard as FIFA names VAR official for opener

French referee Jérôme Brisard has been selected as the video assistant referee for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, placing him at the centre of the tournament’s first fixture between Mexico and South Africa.

FIFA’s initial referee appointments for the competition have confirmed that Brisard will oversee VAR duties when the World Cup begins on Thursday, 11 June, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

The appointment marks one of the first major officiating assignments announced for the tournament and places the French official among the referees entrusted with overseeing the competition’s opening stages.

While Brisard will operate from the video review system, the match itself will be officiated on the field by Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.

Sampaio will be supported by fellow Brazilians Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia, who have been appointed as assistant referees for the encounter between Mexico and South Africa.

According to the official FIFA allocations for the opening matches of the tournament, Brisard has been chosen to take responsibility for VAR during the curtain-raiser, underlining the confidence placed in the French official for one of the most scrutinised fixtures of the competition.

At 40 years old, Brisard is among a significant French refereeing contingent selected for the World Cup.

The Chateaubriant-born official is one of eight French referees included in FIFA’s list for the tournament.

His appointment to the opening match represents an early role for France’s refereeing team as the competition gets under way.

France will also be represented by two central referees.

François Letexier and Clément Turpin have both been selected among the match officials for the World Cup, continuing their involvement at the highest level of international football.

Alongside them, four French assistant referees have also secured places for the tournament.

Nicolas Danos, Cyril Mugnier, Benjamin Pages and Mehdi Mahmouni are among those chosen by FIFA, bringing the French representation among match officials to eight referees in total.

The announcement forms part of FIFA’s release of referee assignments for the first four matches of the competition.

In addition to the Mexico-South Africa opening fixture, three further appointments have already been confirmed for the opening round of matches.

The match between South Korea and the Czech Republic will be officiated by Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed.

That fixture is among the first games scheduled after the tournament opener and forms part of FIFA’s initial allocation of referees.

Another opening-round appointment sees Argentinian official Facundo Tello selected to referee the match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.

Tello, who has officiated in major international competitions, will take charge of the encounter as both nations begin their World Cup campaigns.

Saturday’s match involving the United States and Paraguay has also received a confirmed refereeing team.

Dutch referee Danny Makkelie has been appointed to oversee the United States’ opening fixture of the tournament, making him the fourth referee named among FIFA’s first set of appointments.

While several matches now have confirmed officiating teams, FIFA has yet to reveal the remaining referee assignments for the opening round.

Additional appointments are expected to be announced as the start of the competition approaches.

One of the matches still awaiting confirmation is the meeting between France and Senegal.

The identity of the referee selected for that fixture has not yet been disclosed, leaving one of the most anticipated first-round appointments still to be determined.

For Brisard, however, uncertainty has already been replaced by confirmation.

His selection for the World Cup’s opening match ensures that a French official will play a key role from the very first whistle of the tournament.

Working alongside the on-field refereeing team led by Wilton Sampaio, Brisard will be responsible for assisting with video review decisions during the match between Mexico and South Africa.

As FIFA continues to unveil its officiating plans for the opening phase of the competition, the French referee has secured one of the most prominent assignments available at the start of the tournament, taking charge of VAR duties for the game that will launch the 2026 World Cup.