FIFA World Cup: Meet Ismail Elfath, referee for England-Argentina semifinal | World Cup 2026 News | Al Jazeera

Moroccan-American referee Ismail Elfath, 44, will officiate the 2026 World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday. This will be his fourth match of the tournament, having overseen the 2-2 draw between Japan and the Netherlands, Spain's 1-0 win over Uruguay, and Norway's 2-1 victory against Brazil in the round of 16. Born in Casablanca, Elfath moved to the US in 2001 and became a naturalized citizen. He started as a player before turning to refereeing after poor decisions in his matches.