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 immediately sparked reactions. Daily Mail stresses that Lionel Messi has never yet experienced defeat in a match refereed by the American. "Messi's favorite referee"The British tabloid also points out that this appointment comes amidst widespread criticism on social media, with some users claiming, without providing any factual evidence, that the tournament favors Argentina. The newspaper presents these reactions as online theories rather than established facts, while noting that Elfath's appointment is sure to fuel debate ahead of the England-Argentina semi-final.
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 maintain one of the strongest rivalries in the history of world football. The 1986 quarter-final was marked by... Hand of God From Diego Maradona's reign to the 1998 reunion and the numerous subsequent encounters, every match between the two nations is scrutinized. Each 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.
