Argentina have been given ‘luck’ by FIFA ahead of England’s World Cup semi-final
Ismail Elfath has been announced as the referee who will face England in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
And while the 44-year-old has never managed a game for the Three Lions before, he has proved to be a lucky charm for Argentina – and Lionel Messi – in the past.
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The two teams will face each other for a place in Sunday’s final in Atlanta on Wednesday at 8pm UK time.
The first official meeting between England and Argentina since the 2002 World Cup.
In that match David Beckham was on fire from the penalty spot as England won 1-0 – redeeming himself like a hero after being sent off four years ago in a 3-2 defeat to Argentina.
Which Argentina game did Elfath manage before?
Although England defeated Argentina in their last two matches [2002 World Cup, friendly in 2005]the South American nation will be hoping that Elfath will be a good luck charm again.
The Moroccan-born American referee was the fourth official in the 2022 World Cup finals.
In that game Messi finally lifted the famous trophy for the first time – ending Argentina’s 36-year drought of world fame.
Fans were treated to ‘the greatest game you’ll ever see’ as Argentina and France played out a six-goal tie, with the game going to penalties.
In a game that went to three penalties – the most in a World Cup final – Argentina looked set to win 2-0 with first-half goals from Messi and Angel Di Maria.
But Kylian Mbappe’s brace sent the game into extra time, and Messi pulled Argentina back in the 108th minute.
Mbappe then equalized for the second time – becoming only the second player after England legend Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a hat-trick in the final – to send the game to penalties.
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And it was Argentina who were successful in the shoot-outs – scoring four of their spot-kicks – while Kingsley Coman and Aurelian Tchouameni missed for Les Bleus.
Incredibly, Inter Miami star Messi boasts a 100 percent winning record with Elfath managing to go on to cross their paths five times.
The MLS-listed official was the referee for the 2023 Leagues Cup final between Miami and Nashville, with the winners claiming their first major title.
And Messi has been refereed three times by Elfath in MLS, Inter wants three points in each game.
What games is Ismail Elfath refereeing in the World Cup?
Elfath is preparing to enter the field for the seventh time as a referee in the World Cup match.
His debut was Portugal’s 3-2 win over Ghana in Group H in 2022, making Cristiano Ronaldo the first player to score in five different World Cups – a record he broke in North America.
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His second proved equally memorable, as Cameroon beat Brazil 1-0 following Vincent Aboubakar’s stunning winner – and Elfath shook his hand to send him off after the striker took his shirt off in celebration.
Croatia’s last 16 win over Japan was Elfath’s last game as a referee in Qatar.
It was Japan who took part in Elfath’s opening match of the 2026 edition, the Asian side playing to a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.
In Elfath’s second game of the summer, he sent off Uruguay’s Agustin Canobbio for a foul on Pau Cubarsi in Spain’s 1-0 win – a decision which saw him sent off by the Fluminense man.
And in his last match at the World Cup, he was a referee when Norway won 2-1 against Brazil in the last 16 – a game in which he awarded two penalties.
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