FIFA has appointed English referee Michael Oliver to oversee the crucial Group I encounter between Norway and France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match will take place on Friday at Gillette Stadium in Boston as both nations look to conclude the group stage on a positive note and strengthen their positions in the tournament.
Oliver, 41, is among the officials selected by FIFA for the final round of group-stage fixtures and brings considerable international experience to one of the standout matches of the round.
The English official has already taken charge of one game at this year’s World Cup, overseeing the Netherlands’ emphatic 5-1 victory over Sweden on June 20.
The upcoming fixture will be the fifth World Cup match of Oliver’s career, having also officiated three matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Despite his extensive experience at the highest level, this will be the first World Cup match involving either Norway or France that he has refereed.
Oliver has previously officiated two matches involving Norway. The first came in 2019 when the Scandinavians played out a 1-1 draw with Spain, while the second was Norway’s convincing 4-1 victory over Slovenia in 2024.
France have encountered Oliver on four occasions across various international competitions, including UEFA Euro 2021, UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2025 UEFA Nations League.
Among those matches were a notable meeting with Spain and a dramatic 5-4 defeat suffered by Les Bleus in Stuttgart.
His appointment adds further experience to FIFA’s officiating roster as the tournament approaches the decisive phase of the group stage.
With both Norway and France aiming to finish strongly and build momentum heading into the knockout rounds, Oliver and his officiating team will be tasked with managing what is expected to be a highly competitive contest in Boston.
The fixture is likely to attract significant attention, with both teams possessing quality throughout their squads and ambitions of making a deep run in the tournament.
