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The International Football Federation (FIFA) has announced the appointment of American referee Ismail Al-Fathi for the second semi-final match of the 2026 World Cup, which unites the teams of Argentina and England in one of the most prominent confrontations expected in the tournament.
Al-Fateh’s selection was the culmination of his excellent performance during the tournament. He played several big matches with high efficiency, which strengthened FIFA’s confidence in his ability to manage a confrontation of this magnitude.
Al-Fateh, who was born in Casablanca, Morocco before becoming an American citizen and becoming an international referee, is considered one of the most famous referees at the World Cup as he continued to perform at remarkable levels that earned him the respect of international football circles.
However, this appointment effectively ends Al-Fateh’s chances of officiating the final match, as it is customary for the international federation to avoid assigning the same referee to the last two games of the tournament (semi-final and final) in order to maintain balance and impartiality.
On the other hand, according to the website Foot Mercato, the name of Moroccan referee Jalal Jaidi stands out as one of the strongest candidates to officiate the final match after his exceptional performances throughout the tournament that impressed observers and pundits alike, making him the most obvious choice to officiate the most important match in world football.
