By Juan Samuel Santana Chávez

Mexican referees will once again have a presence on a stage of the highest importance. Guillermo Pacheco Larios, originally from Nogales, Sonora, has been selected by FIFA to be part of the officiating team for the grand final of the 2026 World Cup between the national teams of Spain and Argentina. The Sonoran will be part of the video assistant referee (VAR) team, a designation that recognizes his performance throughout the tournament and places him among the officials tasked with administering justice in the most important match of the championship.

Pacheco's inclusion in the final represents a significant achievement for national refereeing and, especially, for Sonora, as he will conclude his World Cup participation in the title match. During the 2026 World Cup, the Mexican accumulated notable activity within the officiating team, being considered for multiple commitments related to the video assistance system, which supported the confidence of the Referees' Committee and FIFA in assigning him this responsibility.

The championship match will be played this Sunday between Spain and Argentina, with Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić as the central referee. Meanwhile, Guillermo Pacheco will be one of those responsible for supporting from the VAR booth, thus consolidating Mexican presence in the 2026 World Cup final and reaffirming the growth of national refereeing in international football's most prestigious competitions.