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US referee to officiate historic England-Argentina World Cup match
15 Jul
Summary
- Ismail Elfath, a US-based referee from Morocco, will officiate the England-Argentina semi-final.
- Elfath has refereed several high-profile matches, including MLS and Concacaf finals.
- Both England and Argentina have previously voiced grievances over refereeing decisions.
For the first time since 2002, England and Argentina are set to face each other in a World Cup semi-final on Wednesday. The match, scheduled for 3pm ET/12pm PT/8pm BST, will be officiated by US-based referee Ismail Elfath. Elfath, who is of Moroccan descent and a graduate of the University of Texas, has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2016 and is known for allowing matches to flow.
This is Elfath's second World Cup, having previously served as the fourth official in the 2022 final where Argentina defeated France. His notable assignments include the 2025-26 Concacaf Champions Cup final and the 2023 Leagues Cup final. He has also overseen several matches involving Lionel Messi since Messi's move to MLS in 2023.
The semi-final officiating team includes US assistants Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, with Italian officials Maurizio Mariani and Marco Di Bello as fourth official and VAR respectively. Elfath's appointments have not been without controversy, as both Egypt and Switzerland expressed dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions in their recent matches against Argentina.
Historically, England and Argentina World Cup encounters have often involved contentious refereeing decisions. Notable instances include red cards for captains and disputed penalty calls, underscoring the high stakes and intense scrutiny anticipated for Wednesday's semi-final.
