Experienced French official Clément Turpin will take charge of England's opening Group L fixture against Croatia at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the match set to be played at Dallas Stadium.

The two sides are among the favourites to finish at the top of Group L, making this an early encounter with significant implications for both teams' routes through the competition.

Turpin's credentials

Turpin has been officiating at the highest level since 2010, building a résumé that includes the 2021 UEFA Europa League Final, the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final, and appearances at Euro 2024. He has refereed more than 300 matches in Ligue 1 and has handled 62 UEFA Champions League ties, in addition to five World Cup appearances prior to this fixture.

Across a career spanning 430 games, Turpin averages 3.32 yellow cards per match — a figure that reflects a firm but measured approach. His red card rate sits at 0.27 per match, amounting to 117 dismissals in total, suggesting he is far from impulsive with his decisions.

One area to watch: Turpin has awarded seven penalties in 31 matches over the past year, a relatively high rate that both sets of players will want to keep in mind.

Full match officials

Turpin will be supported on the lines by fellow Frenchmen Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pagès. Mexico's Katia Itzel García serves as fourth official, with compatriot Sandra Ramírez as reserve assistant referee.

VAR duties fall to Jérôme Brisard, assisted by Willy Delajod — both French — while Swiss official Fedayi San also joins the video review team at Dallas Stadium.