Is FIFA World Cup 2026 ‘rigged’? Lionel Messi’s favourite referee to officiate England vs Argentina semi-final clash
(Courtesy : getty)
Lionel Messi is yet to lose a match under referee Ismail Elfath.
Argentina are set to face England in an exciting FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 15. The defending champions were further boosted by FIFA’s choice of the match officials, with Moroccan-American referee Ismail Elfath officiating the fixture.
Elfath has been a FIFA international referee since 2019 and has taken part in several tournaments, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Tokyo Olympics, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
He also officiated matches in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and was the fourth official in the final between Argentina and France. So far, he has officiated three games in the ongoing World Cup in North America, including the Round of 16 clash between Brazil and Norway.
Also Read: Is FIFA World Cup 2026 rigged in Argentina’s favour? VAR data reveals crucial insight
Lionel Messi’s good luck charm
Elfath is also a match referee in the Major League Soccer (MLS), where Lionel Messi currently plies his trade with Inter Miami. Since his move to the USA, Messi has played four times in matches officiated by Elfath, and the Argentine has emerged victorious on all four occasions. In fact, he has scored four times in those four games.
The 44-year-old Casablanca native is also one who is not afraid to dish out cards during matches. In fact, in the MLS this season, he has shown 41 yellow cards and three red cards in 10 matches. In the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, he has shown eight yellow cards and one red card.
Elfath’s appointment is another controversial step by the global football governing body. Online discussions have already painted the FIFA World Cup 2026 as being “rigged” in favour of Argentina. This has also been said by some players and fans, especially from Egyptian forward Mostafa Ziko.
The defending champions have not had a single VAR call go against them so far in the tournament. They have also been at the end of some favourable refereeing calls, such as the decision not to penalise Messi for a studs-up challenge on Aissa Mandi against Algeria, or the decision to retrospectively send off Breel Embolo for a dive in the quarter-final.
When is England vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?
The match is on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. In India, the match will kick off at 12:30 AM IST on July 16.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.