Lionel Messi's perfect-record referee to officiate Argentina vs England semi-final

FIFA has appointed Ismail Elfath to officiate Argentina's World Cup semi-final against England in Atlanta. Messi has been unbeaten in all five matches involving the Moroccan-American referee.

In Short

• Ismail Elfath to referee Argentina vs England World Cup semi-final
• Messi's teams have won all five matches officiated by Ismail Elfath
• He was the fourth official in the 2022 World Cup final, won by Argentina

Lionel Messi will have a familiar referee in charge when Argentina face England in the FIFA World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, with FIFA appointing Ismail Elfath to officiate the blockbuster clash in Atlanta.

The appointment has drawn attention because Messi has never failed to win a match involving Elfath. Teams featuring the Argentina captain have won all five games in which the Moroccan-American official has served either as the referee or in another officiating role.

The statistic quickly sparked discussion on social media, with some England fans questioning FIFA's decision. However, there is no evidence to suggest Elfath's appointments have had any influence on the results.

Elfath, 44, will oversee his fourth match of the 2026 World Cup. He previously officiated Japan's 2-2 draw with the Netherlands and Spain's 1-0 win over Uruguay in the group stage before taking charge of Norway's shock 2-1 victory over Brazil in the Round of 16. He will be assisted by fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins.

This is not the first time Elfath has been involved in one of Messi's biggest matches. He was the fourth official for the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar, where Argentina defeated France on penalties after an unforgettable 3-3 draw to lift the trophy.

WHO IS ISMAIL ELFATH?

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Elfath moved to the United States in 2001 through the Diversity Visa Program. He later earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas, became a US citizen and now lives in Austin, Texas.

His refereeing career began almost by accident. Elfath played as a striker for amateur club Austin Lightning before becoming frustrated with officiating standards. One day, after repeatedly complaining about referees, the league organiser challenged him to take up the whistle himself.

"I was a hot-headed player," Elfath told the Austin Chronicle in 2022.

"I always complained to the guy that ran the league, and then one day he said, 'You always complain. Why don't you become a referee?'"

Elfath started by officiating youth, high school and semi-professional matches while working full-time in IT sales. He joined Major League Soccer as a fourth official in 2011 and became a full-time referee the following season.

In 2016, he received his FIFA badge and also became part of football history by overseeing the first on-field Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review during a USL Championship match between New York Red Bulls II and Orlando City B.

Over the years, Elfath has established himself as one of North America's leading referees, winning MLS Referee of the Year awards in 2020 and 2022.

He was also in charge of the 2023 Leagues Cup final, where Messi inspired Inter Miami to their first trophy by beating Nashville SC on penalties.

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