Fans surprised by FIFA's referee choices for World Cup semifinals

Fans have expressed surprise and raised questions regarding FIFA's referee appointments for the World Cup semifinals, particularly the selection of American Ismail Elfath to officiate the match between Argentina and England.

Elfath will be assisted by fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, with Italian Maurizio Mariani serving as the fourth official. The second semifinal, featuring France and Spain, will be overseen by Salvadoran Iván Barton. The choice of two referees from the CONCACAF confederation has drawn attention, especially since three European teams and one South American team reached the semifinals.

While FIFA officially emphasizes refereeing quality, consistent performance, and experience in domestic and international matches, the continental affiliation of the chosen referees has become a point of discussion. Unlike the 2022 World Cup final referee, Szymon Marciniak of Poland, or the referee for Argentina vs. Croatia, Daniele Orsato of Italy, Elfath and Barton do not represent the confederations of the teams playing in their respective semifinals. This has left many questioning the criteria, as continental representation is often a factor, though not a stated official rule.