42-YEAR OLD JESUS NOEL VALENZUELA SAEZ TO OFFICIATE THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP BRONZE FINAL BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND

By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike)

• Jesus Noel Valenzuela Saez was born on November 24, 1983 in Portuguesa, Venezuela and has been listed as an international referee for FIFA since 2013.

• Jesus Valenzuela made his officiating debut in the 2011-12 Venezuela Primera Division Season.

• On December 14, 2021, Jesus Valenzuela was named CONMEBOL's Best Referee for 2021 by the IFFHS.

• FIFA World Cup matches officiated by Jesus Noel Valenzuela Saez so far:

• November 25, 2022 (Group Stage) [2022 FIFA World Cup]

Venue: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor 

England 0-0 United States

Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela)

• December 4, 2022 (Round of 16) [2022 World Cup]

Venue: Al Thumama Stadium, Doha 

France 3-1 Poland 

Referee Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela) 

• June 24, 2026 (Group Stage) [2026 FIFA World Cup]

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle 

Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar 

Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela)

• June 13, 2026 (Group Stage) [2026 World Cup]

Venue: BC Place, Vancouver 

Australia 2-0 Turkey 

Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela) 

• June 30, 2026 (Round of 32) [2026 World Cup]

Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington 

Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway 

Referee Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela) 

 • Jesus Valenzuela will take charge as the Center Referee for the FIFA World Cup Third-place game between France and England on July 18, 2026.

• The only time Jesus Valenzuela officiated France national team game at the FIFA World Cup, Les Bleus won (France 3-1 Poland in 2022) [Round of 16] and coincidentally, France played as the home team.

• England only previous game officiated by Jesus Valenzuela at the FIFA World Cup tournament ended goalless (England 0-0 United States in 2022) [Group Stage]