Ismail Elfath oversees first US-based refereeing crew at FIFA World Cup 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has begun, and as American players strive to represent their country, American-based referees are also taking part in officiating the 104 matches. The first American referee to officiate a match at Dallas Stadium, the match between the Netherlands and Japan ended in a 2–2 draw. The crew was led by Ismail Elfath, who was born in Morocco and raised in Texas. His refereeing experience includes FIFA World Cup 2022, 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Final, and 2022 MLS Cup. "It's a dream come true for me again," Elphath said. His journey to becoming a referee began in 2005, and he first played as a player and then decided to become a referee. Referees get their seats 48 hours in advance of organizing matches, which gives them time to prepare. "Match week is a full week, but the last 48 hours are to focus on my physical and mental preparation," Elfath said. Elfath and his crew included three other American referees. The refereeing crew for this match also included two Mexican referees, making the refereeing crew fully representative of the host nation's referees for the first leg. The FIFA World Cup 2026 has a total of 170 match organizers, with the number of American referees being the largest among the others. "I want more football lovers to know how much referees love the game," Elfath said.