Ivan Barton selected for Egyptian Premier League top-two meeting

El Salvador international referee Ivan Barton will take charge of the Egyptian Premier League match between Al Ahly and Pyramids on 23 November 2026.

The fixture is part of the ninth round and brings together the division’s leading two sides, with Pyramids currently top of the table on 24 points and Al Ahly second on 20.

A victory for Al Ahly would reduce the deficit to one point, while Pyramids will be aiming to strengthen their position at the summit by extending the gap.

The appointment was confirmed by the Egyptian Football Association’s main refereeing committee, chaired by Essam Abdel Fattah. Barton’s selection reflects his extensive experience in international competitions and the importance attached to the meeting’s potential impact on the title race.

Barton has held FIFA international status since 2018 and has since officiated at major competitions involving both national teams and clubs.

He was among the referees at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he handled three matches. Those games included Japan v Germany, Brazil v Switzerland and England v Senegal in the last 16.

His international profile was further enhanced at the 2026 World Cup, where he officiated four matches. The most prominent was the semi-final between France and Spain.

CONCACAF said Barton’s appointment for that match made him the first referee from Central America to oversee a World Cup semi-final. He also became the youngest referee from the confederation to referee a match at that stage of the tournament.

Barton achieved the milestone at the age of 35 years, five months and 17 days, according to CONCACAF data. His team for the semi-final included fellow Salvadoran David Moran and Nicaraguan assistant referee Antonio Bobeiro.

The appointment was regarded by CONCACAF as recognition of Barton’s standing on the international stage, following his selection for a high-profile match at football’s biggest tournament outside the confederation’s own competitions.

In addition to his World Cup appearances, Barton has gained experience at the Gold Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League and the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. He also officiated in the football competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

His next assignment will take him to the Egyptian league for a match with significant consequences at the top of the standings, as Al Ahly attempt to close the gap on leaders Pyramids.