Argentine referee Darío Humberto Herrera will oversee Iran’s second group-stage match against Belgium at the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina’s Darío Humberto Herrera is set to referee Iran’s second group-stage match against Belgium at the 2026 World Cup, according to a report by Varzesh3.
The assignment places one of South America’s more experienced officials in charge of a match the report described as important to the group standings. Herrera brings a long record in high-pressure fixtures, including domestic finals, continental club competitions and international tournaments.
Herrera was born in 1985 in Argentina’s Neuquén province and began officiating in the country’s top division in 2013. He has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2015, a period in which he became a regular presence in major South American competitions and FIFA events.
His résumé includes seven Boca Juniors-River Plate Superclásicos, one of the most scrutinized fixtures in world club football. He has also worked in the Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana and Argentine national competitions, and Varzesh3 described him as one of the officials trusted by South American football authorities for major matches.
Herrera’s international profile has grown in recent years. He officiated Copa América 2024 matches including Colombia-Paraguay and Uruguay-Brazil, and was also assigned the 2025 Copa Libertadores final between Palmeiras and Flamengo.
His career has not been free of controversy. One of the most notable episodes came during the 2015 Copa Libertadores meeting between River Plate and Boca Juniors, a match that was stopped after a Boca supporter attacked opposing players between halves. More recently, Varzesh3 noted that Herrera drew heavy criticism in a 2026 Superclásico after a suspected penalty incident went uncalled following a VAR check.
In the buildup to the 2026 World Cup, Herrera was also involved in an unusual intercontinental playoff moment: after starting one match as the fourth official, he took over the referee’s duties late in the game when the original referee was injured.
For Iran and Belgium, Herrera’s appointment adds a familiar big-match referee to a fixture expected to carry real weight in the group. His handling of the game — particularly under pressure and with VAR in play — is likely to be watched closely.
Comments (0)