An epic match is on the cards as England and France face off in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar.
Defending champions France have been in red-hot form with Kylian Mbappe looking close to unstoppable in front of goal.
England have been shining in the final third too with youngsters like Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden stepping up on the big stage.
The game looms as a potentially explosive one and the referee in charge will have their work cut out to keep things under control.
MORE: England vs France prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets
Who is England vs France referee Wilton Sampaio?
Brazilian Wilton Sampaio has been assigned to referee the World Cup quarterfinal match between England and France.
Both of his assistant referees also come from Brazil, with two Spaniards taking up positions in the VAR control room.
Sampaio has officiated three 2022 World Cup games to date and handed out a total of 10 yellow cards. He also awarded one penalty to Poland in their 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the group stages.
Sampaio World Cup 2022 record
| Date | Stage | Match | Yellows | Reds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 21 | Group | Senegal 0 Netherlands 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Nov. 26 | Group | Poland 2 Saudi Arabia 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Dec. 3 | R16 | Netherlands 3 USA 1 | 2 | 0 |
Wilton Sampaio referee style
Sampaio can be described as quite a technical and quite progressive referee for the fact he played a large role in VAR's initial introduction.
The Brazilian was on hand to help with the technology's introduction at the 2018 World Cup but is now back on the pitch in Qatar.
Sampaio has given out a fair number of penalties across his career to date with 114 awarded from 381 matches.
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) December 8, 2022
Everything to know about Wilton Sampaio
The 40-year-old Brazilian has stood out as a referee for a number of years now.
He was voted one of the best officials at the 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A championships and has been recognised by FIFA on the international stage since 2013.
Sampaio is a veteran referee in the Copa Libertadores and last year officiated quarterfinals at both Copa America and the Arab Cup.
