World Cup 2026: Ismail Elfath appointed referee for Spain vs Uruguay showdown

FIFA has selected American referee Ismail Elfath to take charge of the important World Cup 2026 group-stage meeting between Spain and Uruguay on June 27.

The match will be the final Group H fixture for both teams and carries major importance, with Spain looking to secure their place in the round of 32 while Uruguay face pressure to revive their campaign.

Spain entered the tournament with a difficult opening match before responding strongly in their second game. La Roja followed their draw with a convincing 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, a result that moved them to the top of the group.

Luis de la Fuente’s side will now aim to complete the group stage with another positive result and confirm qualification for the knockout rounds.

Uruguay, meanwhile, have experienced a more complicated start. La Celeste were held to draws by Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, leaving them needing a strong performance against Spain to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

For this decisive encounter, FIFA has placed its trust in Ismail Elfath, one of the most experienced referees from the United States.

The 44-year-old official has built a long career in international football, having refereed more than 330 matches across competitions including Major League Soccer, the Saudi Pro League, the Olympic Games and the Arab Cup.

Elfath is also no stranger to the World Cup stage. Before the 2026 tournament, he had already officiated three matches at the global competition.

During this edition, he was appointed for the meeting between Japan and the Netherlands, which ended in a 2-2 draw, where he issued three yellow cards.

Throughout his career, Elfath has shown a reputation for strict officiating, having handed out 1,223 yellow cards and 42 red cards.

He will be supported by an international refereeing team for the Spain-Uruguay clash. Fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins will work as assistant referees, while Costa Rican officials Juan Calderón and Juan Carlos Mora will complete the team as fourth official and reserve assistant referee.

With both nations chasing important objectives, the encounter is expected to be a major test of quality and discipline, with Elfath set to play a key role in ensuring the match is handled fairly.