Who is Anthony Taylor? All about Portugal v Spain FIFA World Cup match referee

Anthony Taylor, a Premier League referee since 2010-11 and a FIFA-listed official since 2013, has been appointed to referee the Portugal vs. Spain Round of 16 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, July 6, in Dallas.

It is his third assignment of the tournament after group-stage games involving Uzbekistan, Colombia, Senegal, and Iraq. Taylor's appointment carries added weight given his controversial history with Spain, including a disputed non-penalty call against Marc Cucurella at Euro 2024 and a contested offside ruling in the 2021 Nations League final. Assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, along with fourth official Felix Zwayer, round out the officiating team for the knockout clash.

Who is Anthony Taylor?

Anthony Taylor has been confirmed as the referee for Monday's Portugal vs. Spain Round of 16 clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Dallas, putting one of the tournament's most experienced officials in charge of a marquee knockout fixture. The 47-year-old Englishman has worked as a Premier League referee since the 2010-11 season and became FIFA-listed in 2013.Taylor grew up in Wythenshawe, Manchester, and built his refereeing career from grassroots leagues through the Football League before reaching the Premier League's Select Group.

His appointment matters because it places a veteran with deep tournament experience, and a history of contentious calls involving both teams at the center of a game that will decide a quarterfinal spot.

Anthony Taylor has been appointed as match referee for Portugal v Spain match

This will be Taylor's third assignment of the 2026 World Cup, following earlier appointments for Uzbekistan vs. Colombia and Senegal vs. Iraq in the group stage. He will be supported by fellow Englishmen Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn as assistant referees, while Germans Felix Zwayer and Robert Kempter serve as fourth official and reserve assistant.

Taylor's history with the Spanish national team is a significant subplot heading into Monday. His most recent match involving Spain came in the Euro 2024 quarterfinal against Germany, which Spain won 2-1 in extra time on a Mikel Merino goal after a fiercely contested battle. That match has followed Taylor into this appointment, and it is not the only one shaping how fans view his selection.

Anthony Taylor's major controversies

The Cucurella non-call sits at the center of Taylor's file on Spain.

During that same Euro 2024 quarterfinal, he did not award a possible handball by Marc Cucurella against Germany, a decision UEFA's Referees Committee later said should have resulted in a penalty. Spain advanced anyway, but the missed call remains one of the most debated moments of that tournament.

It was not Taylor's first brush with a high-stakes offside or handball dispute involving these nations. In the 2021 UEFA Nations League final, he allowed a Kylian Mbappe goal to stand for France despite an initial offside flag, ruling that a touch from Eric Garcia had restarted the phase of play.

France won that match 2-1, and the offside interpretation was later adjusted by the sport's lawmakers, a rare instance of a single call influencing a rule change.Taylor's reputation for drawing scrutiny extends beyond international football. He faced criticism after showing 14 yellow cards in a Premier League match between Bournemouth and Chelsea, a total that reignited debate over sanction consistency, and he and his family were confronted by angry supporters at a Budapest airport following the 2023 UEFA Europa League final, an incident that drew widespread condemnation from the football community.

None of that history has kept FIFA from trusting him with its biggest games, and Monday's assignment sets up another test of whether his calls will again become the story. Portugal and Spain both know it, and so does everyone watching in Dallas.