ATLANTA (Lord Media): U.S. referee Ismail Elfath has been selected to officiate the 2026 World Cup semi-final between Argentina and England, scheduled for Wednesday at Atlanta Stadium.
FIFA announced the match officials for match number 102, stating that Ismail Elfath will be assisted by his compatriots Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, both from the United States.
The 44-year-old Elfath, a prominent football referee in the U.S., was born in Morocco and moved to the U.S., where he has been officiating in the U.S. football league since 2012.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi is familiar with Elfath’s style. Elfath served as the fourth official in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final, where Argentina claimed the championship.
In the current World Cup, Elfath has officiated three key matches, including Netherlands vs. Japan, Uruguay vs. Spain, and Norway vs. Brazil.
The Argentina-England clash holds historical significance as the teams face off for the first time since 2005, with their last World Cup encounter in 2002, where England emerged victorious.
Throughout Argentina’s journey to the semi-finals, referee decisions and VAR usage have sparked debate, making officiating decisions a focal point in Argentina’s matches.
Football fans anticipate a thrilling match, with both players’ and the referee’s performances likely to be scrutinized.
