Sports

Who Is the Referee In Uruguay vs Cabo Verde World Cup Game?

Matchday 2 of Group H will see Uruguay take on Cabo Verde. The two teams drew in matchday 1 last week, with Uruguay drawing 1-1 with Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde drawing 0-0 with Spain.

After nearly pulling off a comeback win last week, Uruguay will look to get three points and push for qualification to the knockout stage before playing against Spain in the next few days.

The referee for the match today will be Norwegian referee Espen Eskas. Eskas has been a FIFA referee since 2017, but the 2026 World Cup marks his first World Cup as an official.

 (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Referee, Espen Eskas, poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 06, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Photo by Carmen Mandato - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Referee, Espen Eskas, poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 06, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Photo by Carmen Mandato - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Photo by Carmen Mandato - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Eskas has been a 4th official but has become the main referee for the big tournament over the years. Eskas has officiated games in the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Arab Cup, and the World Cup qualifier matches in Europe.

For the Uruguay vs Cabo Verde match, Eskas will have two assistant referees from Norway and will also have American assistants.

Full Referee Team for Uruguay vs Cabo Verde

  • Main Referee: Espen Eskas (Norway)
  • Assistant Referee 1: Jan Erik Engan (Norway)
  • Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin (Norway)
  • 4th Official: Tori Penso (USA)
  • Reserve Assistant Referee: Brooke Mayo (USA)

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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 5:44 PM.

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