Letexier dropped from 2026 FIFA World Cup officiating after Argentina-Egypt controversy

French referee François Letexier has reportedly been removed from the list of officials for the remainder of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the controversy surrounding his performance in the Round of 16 clash between Argentina and Egypt.

Letexier came under intense scrutiny after Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt, a match that triggered strong protests from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA).

The EFA submitted an official complaint to FIFA, challenging several key decisions made during the encounter, including the disallowance of an Egyptian goal and the dismissal of late penalty appeals.

The federation also requested that Letexier and his officiating team be withdrawn from officiating any further matches at the tournament.

The match generated widespread debate across the football community, with Egyptian players and officials maintaining that a number of crucial decisions unfairly influenced the outcome.

Despite the criticism, FIFA’s Head of Refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, had defended the officiating team, insisting that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols were correctly applied and dismissing claims of bias.

However, Letexier has now reportedly been dropped from the list of match officials for the remainder of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing his involvement in the tournament to an early end.