FIFA has officially appointed American Ismail Elfath to referee the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina, scheduled for Wednesday in Atlanta. The 43-year-old referee will be assisted by his compatriots Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, while Italian Maurizio Mariani will serve as the fourth official and Daniele Bindoni as the alternate assistant referee. This appointment concerns one of the most sensitive matches of the tournament, both because of the historic rivalry between the two teams and the context surrounding Argentina's performance since the start of the competition.
An experienced referee from major competitions
Born in Morocco before settling in the United States, Ismail Elfath has been a FIFA international referee for several years. He had already participated in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and now has several matches to referee at the 2026 World Cup. Since the start of this edition, he has notably officiated the matches Netherlands – Japan, Uruguay – Spain, and Norway – Brazil. His experience with high-profile matches was a significant factor in the FIFA Referees Committee's selection.
The Daily Mail highlights Messi's statistics with Ismail Elfath
In England, the appointment of Ismail Elfath sparked immediate reactions. The Daily Mail points out that Lionel Messi has never lost a match officiated by the American, "Messi's favorite referee ." The British tabloid also notes that this appointment comes amidst widespread criticism on social media, with some users claiming, without providing any factual evidence, that the tournament is biased in favor of Argentina. The newspaper presents these reactions as online theories rather than established facts, while acknowledging that Elfath's appointment is sure to fuel debate before the semi-final between England and Argentina.
There are already numerous controversies surrounding Argentina
Elfath's appointment comes amidst strong reactions to several refereeing decisions made during Argentina's previous matches. The round of 16 match against Egypt and the quarter-final against Switzerland were both contested, particularly regarding several refereeing decisions and the use of the VAR protocol. These incidents have fueled an international debate about refereeing at this World Cup.
A meeting under very high security
England and Argentina share one of the fiercest rivalries in the history of world football. From the 1986 quarter-final marked by Diego Maradona's infamous Hand of God , to the 1998 rematch and the numerous subsequent encounters, every clash between the two nations is scrutinized. Every refereeing decision will therefore be observed with particular attention. FIFA has chosen a referee experienced in high-profile matches to officiate a game where even the smallest decision could have a crucial impact on the race to the 2026 World Cup final.
