FIFA has barred English referees Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver from officiating any Argentina matches at the 2026 World Cup due to a long-standing neutrality policy tied to the 1982 Falklands War.
The restriction, confirmed as the knockout stages unfold, blocks Taylor and Oliver from any Argentina fixture, according to a report by Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi on hfworld.net.
The policy also works in reverse, preventing Argentine officials from taking charge of England games. It’s not new — the same rule kept Taylor away from the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.
With England and Argentina both alive in the competition, the restriction could complicate FIFA’s officiating plans further should the two sides meet later in the tournament.
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