FIFA appoints Ismail Elfath for England-Argentina semifinal

American referee Ismail Elfath has been appointed to officiate the highly anticipated World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina, scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium. The announcement has intensified existing scrutiny over officiating in the tournament, as Elfath has a history with Argentine star Lionel Messi and Argentina's recent matches have been mired in controversy.

Elfath, a 44-year-old Moroccan-born official who moved to the United States at 18, will be taking charge of his fourth match this World Cup. He will be assisted by fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, with Italy's Maurizio Mariani serving as the fourth official. Elfath was the fourth official for the 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won, and his professional encounters with Messi have increased since the forward joined MLS club Inter Miami in 2023. In four club matches officiated by Elfath, Messi's teams have won each time, including the 2023 Leagues Cup final.

The selection comes amid a backdrop of allegations of refereeing bias favoring Argentina throughout this tournament. In the round of 16, Egypt manager Hossam Hassan accused FIFA of rigging the competition to...