World Cup 2026: American Ismail Elfath to referee England v Argentina
FIFA's selection of American referee Ismail Elfath for the high-risk clash in Atlanta has drawn criticism from English media and football pundits.
World Cup 2026: American Ismail Elfath to referee England v Argentina
FIFA has appointed American official Ismail Elfath to referee the World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina on Wednesday. The match will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which has been renamed the Atlanta Stadium for the tournament to comply with FIFA branding regulations.
The selection of Elfath has triggered immediate controversy among supporters and media. In England, the Daily Mail’s official X account claimed that Lionel Messi gets his favourite referee
for the clash. This reaction follows reports that Messi has remained unbeaten in four MLS matches officiated by Elfath, scoring 4 goals across those fixtures. Some critics have alleged that Elfath allows the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner to influence games through repeated protests.
Elfath, 44, was born in Morocco and moved to the United States in 2001 after winning a diversity visa lottery. Now based in Texas, he has officiated in MLS since 2012 and was named MLS Referee of the Year in 2020 and 2022. This semifinal marks his fourth match of the 2026 tournament, having previously overseen Netherlands vs. Japan, Brazil vs. Norway, and a physical encounter between Uruguay and Spain.
His performance in the Spain vs. Uruguay match drew heavy criticism. Observers accused Elfath of failing to check Uruguay’s aggressive play before eventually sending off Agustín Canobbio. Additionally, officiating in Argentina's matches against Switzerland and Egypt sparked complaints from players and media. Former England captain Alan Shearer expressed concern that refereeing decisions could cost the Three Lions and suggested he would not be surprised to see red cards in the semifinal.
The appointment is a historic milestone, as it is the first time two CONCACAF referees have been chosen to officiate the semifinals of the same FIFA World Cup. Elfath will lead an all-American trio, assisted by Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins. Italian officials Maurizio Mariani and Daniele Bindoni will serve as the fourth official and reserve assistant referee, respectively.
Beyond the officiating, the match has been classified as a highest risk
fixture. Following a meeting between FIFA, the FBI, and local police, the Atlanta Police Department announced enhanced security measures. The rivalry is fueled by the 1982 Falklands War, which resulted in 907 deaths. Tensions rose this week after Argentina's foreign minister restated a claim to the islands, a move Prime Minister Kier Starmer quickly rejected. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has called for calm, stating,
"The message to the Argentine people is that this is a soccer match. We’re going to face a great team with a great coach, but it is just a soccer match, nothing more than that."
Lionel Scaloni, Argentina head coach, via Mirror Sport
On the pitch, England enters the game seeking their first final since 1966. Thomas Tuchel's squad must overcome a defending champion Argentina side that will wear a dark blue kit—a superstitious choice granted by FIFA. The Argentinians previously wore light blue and white in 2022, but the darker kit was worn during victories over England in 1986 and 1998.
Argentina faces fitness concerns. Lionel Messi, who is the joint leading goalscorer of the tournament with eight goals, missed a training session after taking a heavy blow to his right eye from Granit Xhaka during the quarter-final win over Switzerland. England is also managing fatigue, with Declan Rice having made 67 appearances for club and country since August.
The match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The winner will face the victor of the first semifinal between France and Spain.
