FIFA Names US Referee for England–Argentina World Cup Semi-final
FIFA has selected American referee Ismail Elfath to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina, scheduled to take place in Atlanta.
Elfath, who was born in Morocco and later relocated to the United States, is among the experienced officials at the tournament. He has already taken charge of several matches in the competition and also served in an officiating role during the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.
In the ongoing tournament, he has overseen key fixtures, including a Round of 16 encounter that drew attention due to VAR interventions on penalty decisions. He was also in charge of group-stage matches involving top teams, where disciplinary calls and match control were closely observed.
For the semi-final clash, Elfath will be assisted by fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins. Italy’s Maurizio Mariani has been appointed as the fourth official, while Daniele Bindoni will serve as the reserve assistant referee.
The match is expected to be one of the most high-profile encounters of the tournament, with England aiming to secure a place in the final and defending champions Argentina seeking to maintain their title challenge.
The appointment has sparked varied responses among football fans and observers. While some have welcomed the decision, citing Elfath’s experience and familiarity with high-level matches, others have expressed concerns over certain decisions made in previous games during the tournament.
Debate has also emerged on social media regarding consistency in officiating, particularly in relation to VAR decisions. Nonetheless, many analysts believe FIFA’s choice reflects confidence in Elfath’s ability to handle a high-pressure fixture of this magnitude.
