​Moroccan-American football referee Ismail Elfath will officiate the seismic FIFA World Cup semifinal showdown between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday.It marks the fourth match the 44-year-old has been in charge of at this tournament, after the 2-2 draw between Japan and the Netherlands and Spain’s 1-0 win against Uruguay in the group stage, as well as Norway’s stunning 2-1 victory in the round-of-16 meeting with Brazil.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere’s everything to know about Elfath’s personal background and refereeing career:Born in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, Elfath migrated to the United States in 2001 as a 17-year-old after securing a visa under the US Diversity Visa Program – what was commonly called the “diversity lottery”.Graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas, Elfath later became a naturalised US citizen.He resides in Austin, Texas.Elfath’s foray into refereeing was rather accidental, as he started out as a player, featuring as a striker for amateur team Austin Lightning in USL League Two.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPoor refereeing decisions during his playing time prompted him to pick up the whistle himself.“I was a hot-headed player,” Elfath said in an interview with the Austin Chronicle newspaper in 2022.“I always complained to the guy that ran the league, and then one day he was like, ‘Man, you always complain, you should just become a referee.’”After attending a refereeing clinic, Elfath picked up officiating shifts in youth games, high schools and semi-pro leagues. All along, he worked a full-time job in IT sales.Finally, Elfath made the jump to the US’s top-flight Major League Soccer (MLS) as a fourth official in 2011 before becoming a referee the following year.Rodrigo de Paul, right, and Lionel Messi, centre, of Inter Miami talk with referee Ismail Elfath during a 2026 MLS match between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF [Dustin Markland/Getty Images/AFP]In 2016, he was officially listed as a FIFA referee.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe same year, the American was also part of a piece of history: Elfath was the referee during a USL match between New York Red Bulls II and Orlando City B, where the first worldwide on-field Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review took place.Over the last 14 years working in MLS, Elfath was twice named the league’s Referee of the Year (2020, 2022).After officiating matches in several high-profile tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, Elfath made his senior World Cup debut at Qatar 2022.“I am the triple minority. Immigrant, of African descent, Muslim. I am the sole representative for the US, so it’s a very humbling responsibility, but also one of those positions where you say, ‘Anything is possible,’” he said at that time, reflecting on the opportunity to step up on the world stage.AdvertisementAdvertisementA