It's no surprise that America's interest in soccer rises exponentially with the World Cup. However, with the 2026 World Cup being held primarily in the United States, coupled with the fact that the U.S. men's national team won their first game by a dominant 4-1 score over Paraguay and, suddenly us pigskin-loving, baseball-chucking yankees are all about this fancy version of football.
That isn't to say that America has had zero influence on the soccer world though. In fact, a very prominent sight throughout this tournament will be referee Ismail Elfath.
Elfath was the head referee for the match between Group F opponents Netherlands and ****** an, where he handed out a yellow card to the Netherlands' Memphis Depay. Elfath is a very well-respected figure in the soccer referee world, and yes, he's an American; Moroccan-American to be specific.
Elfath has been a staple of Major League Soccer officiating ever since he joined the league in 2011. Elfath quickly drew attention on the international circuit as well, becoming a FIFA-listed referee in 2016. Elfath's familiarity with American geography and respect in the soccer world is sure to make him a vital figure in the 2026 World Cup. Here's what to know about him:
Elfath, 44, is a Moroccan-American referee, who came to America in 2001 at the age of 18 after winning a diversity visa lottery.