Norway are set to take on Senegal as Group I of the World Cup enters its second round of fixtures.

Following their commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq in their opening game, Norway will look to maintain their momentum. Senegal, meanwhile, will aim to recover after suffering a defeat against France in their first outing.

The referee for tonight’s encounter has been confirmed.

Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio, who officiated the opening match of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, will once again take charge. Sampaio drew significant attention during that fixture after issuing three red cards in what turned out to be an eventful tournament opener, suggesting that this World Cup could see a high number of dismissals.

Since that fiery opener, four more red cards have been shown across other matches, bringing the total to seven so far in the competition.

The all-time record for red cards in a single World Cup stands at 28, set during the 2006 tournament in Germany.

For tonight’s game between Norway and Senegal, Sampaio will be supported by two of his compatriots, Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia, who will serve as assistant referees on the sidelines.

New Zealand’s Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh has been appointed as the fourth official, while fellow New Zealander Isaac Trevis will take on the role of reserve assistant referee.

Sampaio, who sent off South Africa’s Themba Zwane during the Mexico match, will be hoping for a calmer affair this evening. However, with both Norway and Senegal keen to secure progression to the knockout stages, tensions could run high.

Before this year’s World Cup, Sampaio had overseen more than 250 matches across domestic and international competitions. His experience includes officiating England’s defeat to France at the previous World Cup.

In addition, Sampaio was a member of FIFA’s pioneering Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team, which made its debut at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.