TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The blockbuster 2026 World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina will not only put Lionel Messi and Harry Kane under the spotlight.
The referee assigned to the high-stakes clash, Ismail Elfath, is also attracting attention, especially because of his unusual connection with Messi’s recent career milestones.
The Moroccan-born American referee will take charge when the Three Lions face the Albiceleste at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, July 16.
The appointment comes as the two football giants renew one of the World Cup’s most controversial rivalries, a fixture remembered for moments such as Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal, David Beckham’s red card, and decades of heated encounters.
For Elfath, the semifinal will be his fourth match at the 2026 World Cup. But beyond his experience and reputation as one of North America’s leading referees, his history with Messi has made his appointment a talking point.
The Referee Who Keeps Appearing in Messi’s Big Moments
According to report by New York Times, Elfath has already been linked to some of Messi’s most memorable achievements in recent years.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Elfath served as the fourth official during the dramatic final between Argentina and France, where Messi scored twice before Argentina won the trophy through a penalty shootout.
A year later, Elfath was the referee when Messi’s Inter Miami lifted the 2023 Leagues Cup title. Messi scored Miami’s only goal in the final against Nashville SC before the match was decided on penalties.
Elfath has also officiated several Inter Miami matches involving Messi since the Argentine superstar moved to Major League Soccer. His most recent assignment involving Messi came in March 2026, when Inter Miami defeated Orlando City 4-2.
Overall, Elfath has overseen three MLS victories for Messi, adding to the perception that the American referee has become a familiar figure during some of the Argentine icon’s biggest moments.
Who Is Ismail Elfath?
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1982, Elfath moved to the United States as a teenager after receiving a visa through the US Diversity Visa Program. He later became a US citizen and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Before becoming a referee, Elfath was a football player in Texas. He began officiating after becoming frustrated with refereeing decisions during his playing days.
“I was a hot-headed player,” Elfath said in a 2022 interview, recalling how his complaints about officials eventually pushed him toward refereeing, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
He began officiating youth and amateur matches before joining Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2012. Four years later, he became a FIFA-listed referee.
Elfath has since emerged as one of the most respected officials in North America, winning the MLS Referee of the Year award twice, in 2020 and 2022.
He was also part of football history in 2016, when he was involved in the first live on-field Video Assistant Referee (VAR) trial during a USL match between New York Red Bulls II and Orlando City B.
A World Cup Referee With Big-Game Experience
The England vs Argentina semifinal will be Elfath’s second World Cup appearance.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he officiated two group-stage matches and a knockout game before serving as the fourth official for the final between Argentina and France.
At the 2026 tournament, Elfath has already handled three matches:
Japan’s 2-2 draw against the Netherlands
Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay
Norway’s 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16
He has shown seven yellow cards and issued one red card in the tournament, sending off Uruguay winger Agustín Canobbio for a dangerous challenge.
For the semifinal, Elfath will be assisted by fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins. Italy’s Maurizio Mariani will serve as the fourth official.
Why the Appointment Could Be Controversial
The referee’s role will carry extra pressure because England vs Argentina has historically been one of football’s most emotionally charged rivalries.
From disputed goals to controversial dismissals, referees have often become part of the story.
Previous World Cup meetings produced legendary refereeing controversies, including Ali Bin Nasser’s decision to allow Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and Kim Milton Nielsen’s decision to send off Beckham in 1998.
The 2026 semifinal also arrives after Argentina’s previous knockout matches generated debate among opponents. Switzerland criticized refereeing decisions after their quarterfinal defeat, while Egypt expressed frustration following their last-16 elimination.
As Argentina chase a second consecutive World Cup final appearance and England aim to reach the final for the first time since winning the trophy in 1966, Elfath faces one of the biggest assignments of his career.
And if history is any indication, the man with the whistle could once again become part of the World Cup story.
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