Espen Eskas to referee Uruguay vs Cape Verde at World Cup 2026 in Miami

Norwegian referee Espen Eskas has been appointed to oversee Uruguay’s FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with kick-off scheduled for 11pm BST.

Eskas, 37, is a regular in Norway’s top division and has also officiated in the UEFA Champions League this season, giving him experience of high-pressure European nights. He served as a fourth official at Euro 2024 in Germany, further underlining his credentials on the international stage. He originally came to the game as a player before switching to refereeing at around the age of 16.

Fellow Norwegians Jan Erik Engan and Isaak Bashevkin will serve as assistant referees, while American official Tori Penso takes the fourth official role, with Brooke Mayo in reserve.

The VAR operation will be led by French official Willy Delajod, who works in Ligue 1 and internationally in both refereeing and video-review capacities. He will be joined in the booth by compatriot Jerome Brisard and Dutch official Dennis Higler.

Uruguay, managed by Marcelo Bielsa, are seeking their first win of the tournament. Cape Verde arrive with momentum after claiming a historic draw against former world champions Spain in their opening group match, making this a more evenly contested fixture than the standings might suggest.