Overview
- Elfath, a Moroccan-American based in Austin, has served as a head referee in 2026 World Cup group-stage play, including the Netherlands–Japan match where he issued a yellow card to Memphis Depay.
- Tournament doctors and fitness evaluators cleared Elfath after an injury at the 2024 Copa America, allowing him to resume high-profile assignments at this World Cup.
- Elfath rose through U.S. ranks from USL and MLS to the FIFA list in 2016 and has earned major appointments and honors, including two MLS Referee of the Year awards and roles at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Olympics.
- Texas has become a notable pipeline for elite officials, with referees such as Armando Villarreal and assistant Brooke Mayo also reaching international tournaments while Dallas and Houston host multiple World Cup matches.
- FIFA hands out match crews incrementally, so Elfath’s early prominence and recent regional finals work raise the likelihood of further knockout-stage appointments and greater U.S. officiating visibility.