English referee Michael Oliver will miss his opening assignment at the 2026 World Cup after picking up an injury, FIFA has confirmed.

Oliver, 41, had been scheduled to take charge of the Group E fixture between Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Philadelphia on Sunday. Frenchman Francois Letexier has stepped in as his replacement.

FIFA indicated that Oliver is expected to return to contention for selection "in the coming days," suggesting the injury is not considered serious.

Oliver's officiating career

Oliver is among six English on-field officials present at the World Cup. Anthony Taylor is the other English referee in the 52-strong pool, while Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn, Stuart Burt, and James Mainwaring were selected as assistant referees.

A fixture in the Premier League since 2010, Oliver was elevated to UEFA's elite referee list in 2018. He has previous World Cup experience, having officiated at the 2022 tournament — where he took charge of the quarter-final between Croatia and Brazil — as well as Euro 2024.

In total, the 2026 World Cup — hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — has 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials on duty throughout the tournament.