“Messi never lost with him.” FIFA chooses “Ismail Al-Fateh” as referee for the Argentina-England match.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced the appointment of American referee, Ismail Al-Fath, to officiate the match between Argentina and England in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, in Atlanta.

According to the British newspaper The Sun, Al-Fateh, of Moroccan origins, was present as the fourth referee in the 2022 World Cup final, in which Argentina won, led by the Argentine player, Lionel Messi.

According to the newspaper, Al-Fateh “knows Messi well” from his time playing with the American club Inter Miami, where he managed 4 matches for them at that time, and Messi won them all.

Al-Fateh will be accompanied by the American team’s assistants, Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins, and they are scheduled to be joined by the two Italian officials, Maurizio Mariani, “fourth official,” and Daniele Bindoni, “reserve assistant referee.”