Italian referee Marco Di Bello is the Video Assistant Referee for the blockbuster World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium, with compatriot Maurizio Mariani serving as fourth official. The high-stakes clash kicked off at 20:00 UK time, with the winners advancing to face Spain in Sunday’s final in New Jersey and the losers meeting France for bronze.
Di Bello’s appointment ensures Italian representation among the officiating crew despite the Azzurri failing to qualify for the tournament, and his selection underscores FIFA’s faith in the 42-year-old’s big-match temperament.
Italian Officials in the Spotlight
While the focus remains on the players, the choice of match officials has generated significant debate. France coach Didier Deschamps was openly critical of the decision to appoint Ivan Barton of El Salvador for the other semi-final, and the selection of Ismail Elfath—a Moroccan-born US citizen—for England-Argentina added to the sense of a tournament determined to showcase less traditional referee backgrounds.
“Much was made of the choice of officials for the semi-finals in this tournament,” noted Football Italia. “The pick for the second semi-final was no less obscure, Ismail Elfath originally from Morocco, but nationalised US citizen.”
Di Bello’s role in the video booth provides a layer of European elite-league expertise. Combined with Mariani’s on-pitch experience—he was a referee at the 2024 European Championship and has officiated high-profile fixtures in the Champions League—the Italian pair add gravitas to an otherwise eclectic officials’ roster.
Di Bello’s Serie A Pedigree
Marco Di Bello is a familiar face to followers of Serie A, where he has built a reputation as a reliable, no-nonsense referee. This season alone, he took charge of Cremonese vs. Fiorentina in March and the Parma vs. Napoli encounter on 12 April, a match that saw him involved in a lengthy discussion with Parma captain Enrico Delprato. Such moments underline his willingness to communicate and manage game-defining flashpoints—a trait prized in a VAR official who must calmly advise the on-field referee under extreme pressure.
Having been active in Italy’s top flight since the mid-2010s, Di Bello possesses a deep understanding of the game’s dark arts—something that could prove vital when monitoring Argentina’s physical approach or England’s rapid counter-attacks.
Controversial Appointments Elsewhere
Di Bello’s presence comes amid wider scrutiny of officiating at the 2026 World Cup. Deschamps’ outburst after the quarter-finals highlighted a perceived lack of experience among some officials, while the choice of a US-based referee for a match involving the host nation (albeit as semi-finalists) raised eyebrows in some quarters. In this climate, the steadying influence of a seasoned professional like Di Bello could prove decisive in a fixture of this magnitude.
As England and Argentina battle for a place in the final, the action in the VAR room will be every bit as intense. For Di Bello, it is recognition of years of quiet competence and a chance to showcase Italian officiating on the game’s greatest stage.