12.06.2026 10:10
Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio, who officiated the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, drew attention with his announcement after a VAR review. Sampaio's English pronunciation caused a significant stir among football fans.
In the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, host Mexico faced South Africa. One of FIFA's new practices was used for the first time in the match. After a VAR review, referees announced their decisions to the stadium and viewers via a microphone.
WILTON SAMPAIO'S ANNOUNCEMENT DREW ATTENTION
Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio, who officiated the match, explained his decision in English after a red card situation. However, Sampaio's pronunciation and the English he used during the announcement caught the attention of viewers. Many football fans struggled to understand what the referee said.
IT BECAME ONE OF THE TALKING POINTS OF THE MATCH
In the match where Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0, the referee's announcement was among the details discussed as much as the on-field action. The system implemented by FIFA to increase transparency created interesting scenes on the first day of the World Cup.