Portugal's Joao Pinheiro has been appointed to referee Switzerland's Group B clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both teams chasing their first victory of the tournament.

An experienced official on the world stage

Pinheiro arrives at this fixture with a substantial résumé. On FIFA's list of referees since 2019, he has overseen matches across Portugal's Primeira Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Europa League. He also took charge of Tottenham Hotspur's 2025 Super Cup defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, underlining his experience at the highest club level.

This will mark his first appearance as a referee at the World Cup, though his international experience stretches back to 2019, when he officiated a senior international match between Brazil and Panama. He has since become a regular fixture in both the Saudi Pro League and the Egyptian Premier League, giving him regular exposure to high-profile players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané.

A referee who is not shy with his cards

Pinheiro's record shows a clear willingness to reach for his pocket. Across 440 career matches, he has issued 1,980 yellow cards and 45 red cards — an average of around five yellows per game. Both Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina will need to keep their discipline if they are to avoid trouble at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The full officiating team

Pinheiro will be assisted by his Portuguese compatriots Bruno Jesus and Luciano Maia on the assistant referee lines. Tiago Martins, also Portuguese, takes on the role of Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Japanese officials Yusuke Araki and Jun Mihara complete the team as the fourth official and reserve assistant referee respectively.

What is at stake for both sides

Switzerland entered this fixture after being pegged back by Qatar in their opening game, having led through a Breel Embolo penalty before Miro Muheim's late equaliser denied them all three points. Bosnia and Herzegovina face a similar story — they also took the lead against hosts Canada, only to concede a leveller in the 78th minute. A win for either side would go a long way towards securing qualification from the group stage.