Cleveland Cavaliers 90:73 Miami Heat 
Capitanes de Arecibo 86:98 Aguada Santeros 
Vaqueros de Bayamon 101:78 Gigantes de Carolina 
CD Puerto Varas 86:81 Puerto Montt 
Minnesota Lynx W 104:100 Phoenix Mercury W 
Utah Jazz 80:63 Chicago Bulls 
Milwaukee Bucks 88:95 Phoenix Suns 
Portland Trail Blazers 111:84 Minnesota Timberwolves 
Meycauayan 78:88 San Juan Knights 
Estonia U20 69:73 Luxembourg U20 
NLEX Road Warriors 135:100 Titan Ultra Giant Risers 
China U17 W 36:72 Spain U17 W 
Germany U17 W 61:42 Mexico U17 W 
Quezon Huskers 86:73 Bataan Risers 
Ukraine U20 74:72 Switzerland U20 
North Macedonia U20 64:86 Sweden U20 
San Miguel Beermen 123:109 Macau Black Bears 
Zamboanga Sikat 104:77 Sarangani Marlins 
Ivory Coast U17 W 37:89 Australia U17 W 
Latvia U17 W 53:105 USA U17 W 
Bosnia & Herzegovina U20 74:51 Cyprus U20 
Bulgaria U20 94:54 Denmark U20 
Connecticut Sun W 90:87 Portland Fire W 
Japan U17 W 69:49 Czech Republic U17 W 
Slovenia U17 W 86:59 Colombia U17 W 
Portugal U20 46:51 Iceland U20 
Netherlands U20 25:38 Hungary U20 
The World Cup 2026 semi-final between England and Argentina will be a game to remember. And the person in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly is an American referee named Ismail Elfath. FIFA, the organization that runs the World Cup, has chosen him to lead the officiating team for this huge match.
Who Is Ismail Elfath?
Ismail Elfath is a professional soccer referee from the United States. He has been officiating top-level matches for years, including games in Major League Soccer (MLS) and international tournaments. Here are some key facts about him:
- He was born in Morocco but moved to the US as a child.
- He has refereed in several FIFA World Cup tournaments, including the 2022 edition in Qatar.
- He is known for staying calm under pressure and making fair calls.
Why This Matters for the World Cup
Having an American referee for such a high-stakes game shows how global soccer has become. The US is hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, so it makes sense that an American official gets a spotlight role. This choice also highlights the growing respect for referees from outside traditional soccer powerhouses.
What to Expect in the Semi-Final
England and Argentina are both strong teams with passionate fans. The match will be intense, and Elfath’s job will be to keep the game fair and safe. He will be backed by assistant referees and video assistant referees (VAR) to help make the right calls. Soccer fans around the world will be watching closely to see how he handles the pressure.
A Historic Moment for American Refereeing
This is a big step for American soccer officials. Ismail Elfath’s appointment shows that the US is becoming a serious player in the world of soccer, not just as a host but also as a source of top-tier referees. It’s a proud moment for American soccer fans and a sign that the sport’s growth in the US is paying off.