![Referee Facundo Tello (center) shows a yellow card to Hwang Hee-chan during the Group H match between Korea Republic and Portugal at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Dec. 2, 2022. [Getty Images]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/22/news-p.v1.20260622.59d659ca3dbc459da8667ea02b8ed2bf_P1.jpg)
FIFA has named the referee for South Korea's final group-stage match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and Korean fans will recognize the name. Argentine official Facundo Tello, 44, who refereed South Korea's dramatic win over Portugal at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, will take charge of the Group A decider.
FIFA announced the officiating appointments Monday for South Korea's Group A third-round match against South Africa. The national team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, faces South Africa at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, on Thursday at 10 a.m. Korean Standard Time, with a place in the round of 32 on the line.
Tello is a familiar figure to Korean football fans. He was the man in the middle on Dec. 3, 2022, when South Korea faced Portugal in their Group H finale at Al Rayyan, Qatar.
In that match, South Korea rallied from behind — Kim Young-gwon equalized before Hwang Hee-chan scored a stunning winner deep in stoppage time — to beat Portugal 2-1 and advance to the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years at an away World Cup. Lee Kang-in and Hwang were the only Korean players booked in that game.
Tello began his career as a referee in Argentina's top professional league in 2013 and earned FIFA international referee status in 2019. He is regarded as a referee who lets the game flow but is not afraid to reach for his cards when the situation demands it.
Just before the Qatar World Cup, he made headlines by sending off 10 players in the final of the Argentine "Trofeo de Campeones" cup competition.
At this World Cup, he issued five yellow cards — two to Canada and three to Bosnia and Herzegovina — in their Group B match on June 13.
Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade will serve as assistant referees for the South Africa match. Chade also served as an assistant during South Korea's match against Portugal at the Qatar World Cup.
Meanwhile, South Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Group A opener but fell 1-0 to host nation Mexico in their second match, leaving them second in Group A with three points. A draw against South Africa on Thursday would be enough to secure their place in the round of 32.
betterj@heraldcorp.com
