All eyes are on American referee Ismail Elfath, who was chosen by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to officiate the anticipated clash between England and Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, at 10:00 PM tomorrow evening (Wednesday), in one of the most prominent milestones of his refereeing career.

Elfath, 44, has a different story in the world of refereeing; he was born in Casablanca, Morocco on March 3, 1982, before moving to the United States and obtaining its citizenship, continuing his journey there until he became one of the well-known names on the international scene.

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The American referee began his journey in professional refereeing in 2013, then earned his international badge in 2016, and since then has officiated hundreds of matches at both domestic and international levels, while also working as a consultant in computer technology outside the pitch.During his career, Ismail Elfath has officiated 334 matches, issued 1228 yellow cards, in addition to 40 yellow cards that turned into red (second yellow) and 43 direct red cards, and awarded 111 penalty kicks, numbers that reflect the volume of matches he has handled and his accumulated experience.Positive memories with Messi and ArgentinaElfath has a distinguished record in matches he officiated for Argentine star Lionel Messi, as he officiated 4 matches for the player since his transfer to American Inter Miami in 2023, all of which ended with the Argentine star's team winning.The most notable of those matches was the 2023 Leagues Cup final against Nashville, when Inter Miami won the title on penalties after a draw, a match in which Messi scored a goal.The American referee's name has also been linked to a historic memory for Argentine football, after he was the fourth official in the 2022 World Cup final, which saw the Argentine national team win the third world star after defeating France.Elfath's appearance in the 2026 World CupIsmail Elfath made a notable appearance during the current edition of the World Cup, as he officiated three matches before reaching the England-Argentina match.He opened his participation in the tournament by officiating the Netherlands-Japan match in the group stage, which ended in a 2-2 draw, then took charge of the Spain-Uruguay match in the first round, before officiating the Brazil-Norway match in the round of 16.During his three matches in the tournament, Elfath issued 8 yellow cards and one red card, which was given to Uruguay player Agustín Canobbio.Elfath enters the semi-final clash between England and Argentina with great international experience, having combined presence in major tournaments and officiating matches for the world's top stars, to face a new test in his refereeing career.Age:44Country of birth: CasablancaNationality: AmericanStart of refereeing: May 5, 2012International badge: 2016334 matches1228 yellow cards40 yellow cards turned to red43 direct red cards111 penalty kicks