FIFA has confirmed the referee who will officiate the highly anticipated semi-final match between Argentina and England at the 2026 World Cup. The match will take place on Wednesday evening at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, amid great anticipation from fans.
FIFA has appointed American referee Ismail Elfath to officiate the match, assisted by his compatriots Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, while Italian Maurizio Mariani will serve as the fourth official.
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Elfath’s appointment carries significant attention ahead of the match. He has previously officiated five matches involving Argentine star Lionel Messi, during which the Argentine captain has not suffered a single defeat. Those matches included the 2023 Leagues Cup Final, further fueling public interest in FIFA’s decision.
The American referee possesses extensive experience in major tournaments, having participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he served as the fourth official in the final between Argentina and France.
This decision also means the exclusion of English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, as well as Argentine referee Facundo Tello, from the list of candidates to officiate the final, in accordance with FIFA regulations regarding conflicts of interest.
Ismail Elfath returns to officiating major matches after recovering from a knee injury sustained during the 2024 Copa América, which required two surgeries before he resumed his refereeing duties.
All eyes will be on the highly anticipated clash between Argentina and England, one of the tournament’s biggest matches. The American referee will face a tough test in managing a fixture with a long history of rivalry and excitement between the two teams.
