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 this in a post on its official X handle on Tuesday that Elfath will take charge of Match 102, scheduled for July 15 at Atlanta Stadium, with kick-off set for 3:00 p.m. EDT.
FIFA stated that Elfath will be assisted by fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, while Italian referee Maurizio Mariani has been named fourth official.
The governing body added that another Italian, Daniele Bindoni, will serve as the reserve assistant referee.
The appointment places the experienced Elfath in charge of one of the tournament’s biggest fixtures as Lionel Messi-led Argentina seeks to defend the World Cup title they won in Qatar in 2022.
The semi-final pits two of football’s traditional powerhouses against each other, with Argentina chasing a place in a second consecutive World Cup final and England aiming to reach their first final since 1966, when they lifted the trophy on home soil.
Argentina booked their place in the semi-finals after overcoming three knockout-stage opponents. The South American champions defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, edged Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 and beat Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals.
England also navigated a difficult route to the last four. The Three Lions began their knockout campaign with a 2-1 victory over DR Congo before defeating Mexico 3-2 in the Round of 16. They then secured a 2-1 win over Norway in the quarter-finals to set up the semi-final clash with Argentina.
The match is expected to renew one of international football’s most storied rivalries, which includes the controversial 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico, where Diego Maradona scored the famous “Hand of God” goal before netting the “Goal of the Century” in a 2-1 victory over England.
Elfath, one of the most respected referees in Major League Soccer and on FIFA’s elite list, has previously officiated at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and several major international competitions.
The winner of Wednesday’s encounter will advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, while the loser will contest the third-place playoff.
