FIFA World Cup: Meet Ismail Elfath, referee for England-Argentina semifinal
Summary
Ismail Elfath, a Moroccan-American referee, will officiate the FIFA World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina. Elfath has refereed multiple matches in this tournament and has a long career in Major League Soccer and international events.Key Facts
- Ismail Elfath was born in Casablanca, Morocco, and moved to the US in 2001 through the Diversity Visa Program.
- He graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Texas and lives in Austin, Texas.
- Elfath started refereeing after experiencing poor refereeing as a player in amateur soccer.
- He became a Major League Soccer referee in 2012 and has been named MLS Referee of the Year twice.
- Elfath became a FIFA referee in 2016 and was part of the first on-field Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
- He has officiated at major tournaments like the Tokyo Olympics and Africa Cup of Nations.
- Elfath made his World Cup debut in 2022 and will appear in his second World Cup in 2026.
- He is one of eight US referees working at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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