Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio has been appointed to officiate the Round of 16 match between Morocco and the Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to official FIFA announcements. The match is scheduled to take place on July 1, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Sampaio will be assisted by his compatriots Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia as assistant referees. The fourth official for the match will be Chilean referee Cristián Garay, as confirmed by FIFA's refereeing committee.
This appointment marks Sampaio's first knockout-stage assignment in a World Cup, having previously officiated group-stage matches in the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The 44-year-old Brazilian has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2011 and has officiated in major South American competitions.
The Morocco vs Netherlands match is one of the most anticipated fixtures of the Round of 16, with both teams having advanced from their respective groups. Morocco, the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals in 2022, will look to continue their historic run under coach Walid Regragui.
