Today, July 7, 2026, BC Place in Vancouver. hosts the decisive match of the 1/8 finals of the World Cup between Switzerland and Colombia.. The man in charge of dispensing justice in this exciting elimination duel is a Salvadoran. Ivan Arcides Barton CisnerosA 35-year-old referee who has established himself as the top referee of Concacaf.
Barton with a red card to Miguel Almiron
Throughout his career, the Salvadoran referee He has gained experience in several tournaments for the Concacaf national team.such as the Gold Cup and the Nations League. His international resume includes high-profile events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he distinguished himself in leading matches to the round of 16.
Likewise, it counts with filming in club football ensuring fairness in the Concacaf Champions League, Leagues Cup, FIFA Club World Cup (in 2022 and 2025) and, most recently, the Saudi Pro League from August 2023.
Style and background of the competition
Barton is known as referee with a steady hand in decisive games. During his professional career he has accumulated played more than 300 official matches. His statistics reflect a strong profile, superior to 1,400 yellow cards were shown and 86 straight red cards were recorded..
At the current 2026 FIFA World Cup, he has already been a major player in the application of FIFA’s strict rules. At the previous stage, performing auxiliary functions, He was part of the panel of judges who decided to send off Ecuadorian Piero Jincapie due to a straight red card. against Mexico after a VAR call for failure to comply with the recently introduced Vinicius Law, which penalizes players who cover their mouths when addressing opponents.