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Ivory Coast and Ecuador are set to meet in their Group E encounter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday evening.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 PM local time (midnight UK time) on Sunday, June 14, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

However, FIFA has announced a change in officiating plans after the originally appointed referee, Michael Oliver, had to withdraw from the fixture due to injury.

The English Premier League referee reportedly sustained the injury earlier this week, ruling him out of the tie. Consequently, his assistant referees, who usually form part of his officiating team, will also miss the match.

According to FIFA, Oliver is expected to recover soon and will likely be available for selection in the coming days. He is anticipated to remain in North America to oversee other matches later in the tournament.

In Oliver’s absence, French referee François Letexier has been appointed to officiate the Ivory Coast vs Ecuador clash.

Letexier, who also works as a part-time court bailiff, is widely regarded as one of Europe’s top referees. He made history at Euro 2024 by becoming the youngest referee to officiate a European Championship final at age 35, overseeing the England vs Spain showdown. His most recent competitive appearance came during Aston Villa’s Europa League final win over Freiburg.

The Ligue 1 referee will be assisted by fellow French officials Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni on the touchlines.

Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Al-Turais will serve as the fourth official, while his compatriot Mohammed Al-Bakry has been appointed as the reserve assistant referee.

In the VAR room, Australian referee Jarred Gillett — who also officiates in the Premier League — will take charge, supported by France’s Willy Delajod and Belgium’s Bram Van Driessche.

Both Ivory Coast and Ecuador will be eager to secure three points in this crucial Group E match, especially after witnessing Germany’s dominant victory over Curacao earlier in the day.

According to the latest FIFA World Rankings, Ecuador sit in 24th place, while Ivory Coast are ranked 33rd — a gap of just nine positions, promising what could be a tightly contested encounter in Philadelphia.