The report says Makkelie, 43, is set to handle his third match at World Cup 2026 and is working at his fourth major tournament. His wider résumé includes the 2020 Europa League final, when Sevilla beat Inter Milan behind closed doors.
That experience will be tested in a fixture where one major decision could shape the qualification picture. Makkelie has previously overseen matches involving players from both France and Sweden, while his tournament disciplinary line has already attracted attention.
The report credits him with nine yellow cards across two group matches, roughly 50% above his average across 24 Eredivisie fixtures last season. He has yet to show a red card at this World Cup.
Makkelie’s opening match reportedly produced the tournament’s most debated officiating moment. He initially booked United States captain Tim Ream for a foul on Miguel Almiron, before a VAR intervention reversed the decision and Almiron was cautioned for diving.
The controversy centred on the limits of the mistaken-identity rule. That provision had been extended to yellow cards, but the intervention raised questions about whether the review went beyond correcting the identity of the player punished.
France and Sweden will therefore know that every booking may draw added attention, particularly if a challenge, penalty or second yellow becomes decisive.
Makkelie’s reported appointment points to a referee unlikely to ignore tactical fouls or dissent. Both teams will need discipline in transition, where late challenges can quickly alter the rhythm of a high-stakes game.
The next storyline is clear: whether Makkelie’s experience keeps France-Sweden calm, or whether another VAR decision makes the referee central to the last-16 race.