The referee for today's France vs Sweden match is Danny Makkelie, a senior official from the Netherlands.
As one of UEFA's top referees, Makkelie has officiated matches involving all of the players who will line up either side of him for France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium.
This will be his third match at World Cup 2026 after group stage matches featuring the United States, Paraguay, Morocco and Haiti.
Referee appointment for France vs Sweden
Makkelie, famously a police officer born in Curacao, has been FIFA-listed since 2011. He is one of the most experienced international referees in the game.
World Cup 2026 is his fourth major tournament and his second World Cup. He was in charge of the only Europa League final played behind closed doors in 2020, which was won by Sevilla against Inter Milan.
The 43-year-old attracted attention for his part in a controversial VAR decision in his first match at this World Cup.
Makkelie was the match referee in Los Angeles for the opening game for co-hosts the United States. He issued a yellow card to US captain Tim Ream for a foul on Paraguay's Miguel Almiron.
The decision was reversed and Almiron booked for diving, a very dubious deployment of a 'mistaken identity' clause that was extended to yellow cards but was not intended to introduce re-refereeing.
In his two group stage fixtures, Makkelie racked up a yellow card count of nine. His average in those games was around 50% higher than in his 24 matches in the Eredivisie last season.
He sent a player off every eight matches on average in the league but the World Cup is yet to trouble his back pocket.
Makkelie's assistants in New Jersey are Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries, both from the Netherlands. Tori Penso will be on fourth official duty.
Dutch official Dennis Higler will be leading the VAR crew in Dallas.
