FIFA names Ismail Elfath referee for England-Argentina 2026 World Cup semi-final
FIFA has confirmed that American referee Ismail Elfath will officiate the 2026 World Cup semi‑final between England and Argentina. Elfath has already overseen three matches at the tournament: Norway’s last‑16 win over Brazil, the Netherlands’ 2‑2 draw with Japan in group play, and Spain’s 1‑0 victory over Uruguay, where he sent off Uruguay’s Augustin Canobbio for serious foul play.
In the Norway‑Brazil match, Elfath did not award a penalty for a trip on Matheus Cunha by Kristoffer Ajer; VAR later intervened and Bruno Guimaraes missed the resulting spot kick. In added time he awarded a penalty for Leo Ostigard’s apparent elbow on Casemiro, which Neymar converted for a late consolation goal.
His appointment raises questions about how his recent controversial decisions might influence the high‑stakes England‑Argentina clash, especially given the attacking talents of Lionel Messi and Harry Kane.
Given Elfath’s controversial calls in the Brazil‑Norway game, how might his officiating affect England’s approach to dealing with Argentina’s attacking threats?