Wilton Sampaio referees again after handing out three reds in World Cup opener

Wilton Sampaio, the Brazilian referee who sent off three players during the 2026 World Cup’s curtain-raiser between Mexico and South Africa, has been appointed to officiate Norway’s Group I clash against Senegal.

Sampaio’s high-card opening fixture set the tone for a tournament that has already seen seven red cards brandished across its early matches. For context, the all-time record for a single World Cup stands at 28, set at the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Norway arrive into the match on the back of a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq, while Senegal are looking to recover from an opening-round defeat to France. Both sides need points to advance to the knockout stages, ensuring the stakes are high for Sampaio’s second assignment of the tournament.

The official will be flanked by fellow Brazilians Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia as his assistant referees, with New Zealand’s Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh serving as fourth official and compatriot Isaac Trevis acting as reserve assistant referee.

Sampaio brings considerable experience to the role, having officiated more than 250 matches across domestic and international football before this tournament. His previous high-profile assignments include England’s defeat to France at the last World Cup. He was also a member of FIFA’s inaugural Video Assistant Referee team, introduced at the 2018 tournament in Russia.