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Rabat – FIFA has confirmed Lionel Messi’s “favourite” referee will officiate England’s semi-final with the 2022 champions.
Ismail Elfath is in charge of England vs Argentina
The Moroccan-born American Ismail Elfath will take charge of the England vs Argentina semifinal encounter in Atlanta.
Elfath was the fourth official in Qatar when Argentina beat France in a breathtaking encounter that ended Les Bleus’ dream.
Major League Soccer and the professional referee organization announced him as the MLS referee of the year.
Elfath’s Encounters with Messi
Lionel Messi won all four encounters officiated by Ismail Elfath. In the final vs. Nashville SC, officiated by Ismail Elfath, Messi struck first with a brilliant effort from outside the box. Nashville responded by forcing penalties, where Miami triumphed 10-9. Messi scored the opening round of the shootout.
England vs Argentina
According to the Daily Mail, England players should be aware since the American referee had dished out 41 yellow cards in 10 matches before the World Cup.
The three lions defeated Norway 2-1 and secured a place in the semifinals following Jude Bellingham’s brace. England will face Argentina on Wednesday, 15 July, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Online Debate
The appointment of the match’s official sparked a debate online amid complaints about refereeing controversies during the 2026 World Cup.
Complaints started when Argentina defeated both Switzerland 3-1 and Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Egypt had a goal controversially ruled out, and Switzerland were reduced to 10 men after Breel Embolo’s red card.
The nature of those wins sparked widespread criticism and claims that FIFA was favoring Messi and Argentina, allegations the governing body has strongly rejected.
English Referees
English match officials are banned from Argentina’s World Cup matches, and either Argentina or England will be in charge of the semifinal match.
This rule was put in place following a long dispute over what Argentina calls the Islas Malvinas. The islands are a British territory in the South Atlantic, but Argentina claims they own them.
