The account associated with Goiás referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio, chosen by FIFA to referee the opening game of the 2026 World Cup, appears to be unavailable to users in Brazil. Anyone trying to access the profile is faced with the message that the content has been restricted by court order.
The restriction occurred shortly after FIFA announced, this Monday (8), that Sampaio will lead the duel between Mexico and South Africa, scheduled for Thursday (11), at the Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City. The decision marks the Brazilian presence in the opening match of the tournament, which will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Wilton Pereira Sampaio, 44 years old, born in Teresina de Goiás, is at the height of his international career. This will be his third World Cup: he served as VAR in 2018 and as main referee in 2022, when he reached the quarter-finals. The line-up for the opening reinforces the prestige of the referee from Goiás with FIFA.
Repercussion and history of controversies
The referee garners both praise from football’s highest governing body and fierce criticism from Brazilian fans. Throughout his career at Brasileirão, Sampaio was involved in contested decisions that generated revolts at clubs such as Corinthians, Flamengo and Palmeiras. These episodes often inflame social media against the judge.
The profile restriction on Instagram comes at a time of high visibility. The message displayed to users indicates that the platform received a complaint, carried out an internal analysis and concluded that local laws were violated, choosing to block access in Brazil.
What the restriction reveals
Cases of profiles restricted by court order on Instagram have become more frequent in the country, generally linked to reports of content considered offensive, defamatory or that violates rights. In the case of public figures such as referees, the volume of criticism and offenses following controversial games usually generates a flood of reports.
There is no official confirmation whether the account in question is managed by Sampaio himself or whether it is a widely accessed fan/parody profile. What is known is that the unavailability coincides exactly with the peak of searches and comments about his squad for the World Cup.
Preparation for the premiere
Despite the noise on the networks, FIFA maintains confidence in the Brazilian trio. Wilton Pereira Sampaio will be assisted by compatriots, with a VAR of another nationality. The opening match takes on symbolic contours: Brazil will have main refereeing in the first game of the World Cup, something that highlights the work of the CBF Arbitration Commission in recent years.
Experts point out that the experience accumulated in previous World Cups and recent consistency weighed on FIFA’s choice. For Sampaio, the focus now is on physical and technical preparation for the high-risk commitment.
