World Cup 2026

César Ramos makes World Cup history: Mexican referee set to break national record in Scotland–Brazil showdown

César Ramos will break the Mexican record when he referees Scotland vs Brazil in Miami on Wednesday, and pull level with Argentina’s Néstor Pitana.

DEAN MOUHTAROPOULOS

Javier Cardoso Andy Hall

Ciudad de México Update: Jun 21st, 2026 14:08 EDT

Make us preferred on Google

Mexican referee César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos is about to etch his name even deeper into the history of Mexican officiating. FIFA has officially assigned him to referee the Scotland vs. Brazil match at the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for June 24 in Miami — a high‑profile stage for a milestone moment.

A historic ninth World Cup appearance

FIFA’s Referees Committee confirmed that Ramos will serve as the match’s head referee, joined on the sidelines by fellow Mexicans Alberto Morín and Marco Bisguerra as assistant referees.

This will be Ramos’ second assignment of the 2026 tournament, following his strong performance in the Iran vs. New Zealand Group G match. In that game, he earned praise for his authority, consistency, and smooth game management.

César Ramos makes World Cup history: Mexican referee set to break national record in Scotland–Brazil showdown — ETIENNE LAURENT

But the Scotland–Brazil appointment carries special weight: It will be Ramos’ ninth World Cup match, making him the most experienced Mexican referee in World Cup history.

A career built across three World Cups

Ramos’ World Cup journey began at Russia 2018, where he officiated three matches. He followed that with four more at Qatar 2022, and now adds two in the 2026 edition.

Before this latest assignment, he shared the Mexican record of eight World Cup matches with Armando Archundia — long considered a benchmark for Mexican refereeing excellence. Archundia’s tally included standout performances in Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, most notably the legendary semifinal between Italy and Germany.

With his ninth appearance, Ramos now stands alone at the top.

Referees with the most World Cup matches

11 Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

9 Néstor Pitana (Argentina)

9 César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos (Mexico)

8 Joël Quiniou (France)

8 Benito Archundia Téllez (Mexico)

8 Jorge Larrionda Pietrafesa (Uruguay)

7 John Langenus (Belgium)

7 Sandy Griffiths (Wales)

7 Juan Gardeazábal Garay (Spain)

7 Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)

7 Carlos Eugênio Simon (Brazil)

7 Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)

7 Marco Rodríguez Moreno (Mexico)

7 Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)

A vote of confidence from FIFA

Being chosen for a marquee matchup like Scotland vs. Brazil underscores the trust FIFA continues to place in Ramos. Now in his third consecutive World Cup, he has firmly established himself as one of the most respected referees on the global stage.