FIFA has appointed American referee Ismail Elfath to officiate the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina.
The governing body announced on Tuesday that Elfath will take charge of Match 102, which is scheduled for July 15 at the Atlanta Stadium, with kick-off set for 3:00 p.m. EDT.
Elfath will be supported by a seasoned officiating team:
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Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker (USA)
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Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins (USA)
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Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
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Reserve Assistant Referee: Daniele Bindoni (Italy)
This appointment places Elfath at the helm of one of the tournament’s marquee fixtures.
Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, is aiming to defend the World Cup title they secured in Qatar in 2022 and reach their second consecutive final.
To get here, the South American champions navigated a tough path, defeating Cape Verde (3-2), Egypt (3-2), and Switzerland (3-1) in the knockout stages.
England, meanwhile, is seeking to reach their first World Cup final since 1966.
The “Three Lions” reached the last four after a series of competitive victories, beating DR Congo (2-1), Mexico (3-2), and Norway (2-1) in their quarter-final showdown.
The clash is set to rekindle one of football’s most storied rivalries, famously ignited by the 1986 World Cup quarter-final where Diego Maradona scored his iconic “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” to eliminate England.
Ismail Elfath, a highly respected referee on FIFA’s elite list and a veteran of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is well-regarded for his experience in high-pressure matches.
The winner of this semi-final will advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, while the defeated side will proceed to the third-place playoff.
