Brazil's All-Brazilian Referee Team Officiates Norway vs Senegal at World Cup

Norway and Senegal faced off in a Group I World Cup match on June 22 at MetLife Stadium in New York, notable for featuring an entirely Brazilian refereeing team. Wilton Pereira Sampaio served as the match's main referee, supported by assistants Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia, with Rodolpho Toski managing the VAR system. Isaac Trevis, a foreign reserve assistant referee, was the only non-Brazilian official involved.

Sampaio, who had previously officiated Mexico versus South Africa in the tournament's opening match—a game that ended with three player expulsions—brought his experience to the Norway-Senegal encounter. His appointment represented a significant moment for Brazilian representation in World Cup officiating.

The match and Sampaio's decisions garnered substantial attention on social media, particularly following an incident where Sampaio announced a decision in English through the stadium's public address system. The announcement prompted curious reactions from players, with some appearing to struggle to understand the explanation. The moment quickly went viral online, spawning numerous memes and sparking widespread commentary from Brazilian fans, who offered a mix of cornering (critical commentary), criticism, and praise for their compatriots' performance on the international stage.