The International Federation of Football announced the appointment of Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton to officiate the decisive match between Iraq and Bolivia in the final global playoff qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, scheduled at Monterrey Stadium.

Barton is considered one of the prominent referees in the CONCACAF region, with an international career that began in 2018. He is known for his disciplinary strictness on the field, earning the nickname 'Lover of Red Cards,' having issued more than 108 red cards during his career.

He is also known for his frequent use of colored cards, with an average of more than five yellow cards per match, indicating a highly disciplined match from the start whistle.

Outside the stadiums, Barton works as a university professor in chemistry, which gives him a notable academic background alongside his strict refereeing personality.

The Salvadoran referee has extensive experience in managing major matches in the Saudi Professional League 'Roshan League,' where he led important encounters for clubs like Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, and Al-Shabab, gaining familiarity with the unique fan atmospheres and high pressure in the region.

Internationally, Barton participated in managing matches in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, including strong encounters like Brazil against Germany and France against Japan, reflecting the accumulation of his experiences in major events.