Clement Turpin to Referee England vs. Croatia World Cup 2026 Match
French official Clement Turpin has been appointed to referee the World Cup 2026 match between England and Croatia. Turpin brings extensive experience from major European football competitions, including Europa League and Champions League finals. He has previously officiated games involving figures such as Thomas Tuchel, who once criticized his performance, and Jude Bellingham. Despite past disagreements, Turpin is widely regarded as one of Europe’s top officials.
French referee Clement Turpin is set to officiate the World Cup 2026 match between England and Croatia. Turpin has a notable history of officiating high-profile European football matches.
One significant incident involved an interaction with current England boss Thomas Tuchel three years ago when Tuchel was managing Bayern Munich. During the 2023 Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City, Tuchel expressed strong dissatisfaction with Turpin's officiating. He reportedly branded Turpin's performance as “Grade E” and rated him “one out of 10” after receiving two yellow cards himself.
Tuchel’s frustration stemmed from Turpin issuing five yellow cards in the first half and initially showing Bayern's Dayot Upamecano a straight red card for a challenge on Erling Haaland. This red card was subsequently reversed by VAR due to an offside call. Tuchel commented at the time that the referee was “absolutely terrible” and that “everything was against us.”
Despite this past disagreement, Turpin maintains a reputation as one of Europe's most respected officials, known for his experience on major football stages. His career assignments include the 2021 Europa League final and the 2022 Champions League final. He also officiated England's goalless draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024.
Turpin has also had dealings with Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, reportedly intervening when Bellingham attempted to unsettle Harry Kane during a Champions League fixture.
According to Yahoo Sports Soccer, Turpin's extensive experience and reputation precede him as he prepares for the upcoming World Cup encounter.
