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Wilton Sampaio will be officiating in his third FIFA World Cup when he takes charge of the Mexico vs South Africa tournament opener at the historic Estadio Azteca.
Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio will be in charge of FIFA World Cup 2026 opener between Mexico and South Africa. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is just a few hours away from kick-off with one of the three hosts, Mexico, taking on South Africa in the curtain-raiser at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Unlike the previous editions, 48 teams will participate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 for the first time, with as many as 1248 players relishing their dream.
As the final preparations are underway to start at the mega event, FIFA has announced the list of officials for the Mexico vs South Africa opener, with Wilton Sampaio entrusted to take charge of the opening game. Sampaio will be assisted by fellow Brazilians Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia as assistant referees. Paraguay’s Juan Gabriel Benítez will be the fourth official.
Colombia’s Nicolás Gallo will lead the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team, with assists from Colombian Juan Lara while Frenchman Jérôme Brisard will act as Support VAR during the game.
All you need to know about Wilton Sampaio
Born in Teresina de Goiás in Brazil, Sampaio started his journey as a referee as early as 15 years old and made his professional debut in 2009. The first major breakthrough in his career came in 2012 when Sampaio was chosen as one of the best during the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A championships.
A year later in 2013 Sampaio earned the FIFA badge and has grown in stature. Since then. Sampaio built an extensive resume in international football and is a regular face in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. Sampaio broke into the FIFA World Cup in 2018 in Russia as a part of the VAR team.
Besides international football, Sampaio has also officiated in Copa America matches, World Cup qualifiers and also at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With more than a decade of international experience, Sampaio is one of the most decorated referees, heading into the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Wilton Sampaio is no stranger in Mexico
Sampaio is no stranger to Mexican fans. At the FIFA Club World Cup last year, Sampaio officiated the high-profile game between Rayados and Inter Milan when finished at 1-1. He also oversaw the play-off game between Club America and Los Angeles FC, which the later won to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup 2025.
Can Mexico break the trend?
Mexico usually hit a wall when they play on the opening day of the FIFA World Cup. Of the seven previous occurrences, El Tri's record is five losses and two draws. Mexico get another shot on Thursday when they host South Africa to kick off the 48-team tournament.
Mexico lost their opening-day games in 1930, 1950, 1954, 1958 and 1962 and had draws in 1970 - at home - and 2010. Some of those tournaments had games kicking off simultaneously on opening day, such as Uruguay in 1930 when France beat Mexico 4-1 while the United States defeated Belgium 3-0.
At the 1986 World Cup, then-defending champion Italy played the tournament opener against Bulgaria - in a 1-1 draw in Mexico City. Mexico played their first group-stage game two days later and won 2-1 over Belgium.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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