MIAMI, Florida– In a historic first for the Confederation, Concacaf match officials have been appointed to both FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals, with Salvadoran referee Iván Barton and American Ismail Elfath set to take charge of the high-stakes clashes.
Barton will officiate the semifinal between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 14, while Elfath has been assigned to the England-Argentina showdown at Atlanta Stadium on July 15.
Both appointments mark the fourth match of the tournament for each referee.
The 35-year-old Barton will achieve two significant personal milestones: he becomes the first Central American referee to officiate a World Cup semifinal and the youngest Concacaf referee ever appointed to a semifinal at 35 years, 5 months, and 17 days.
Barton will be joined by fellow Salvadoran David Morán and Nicaraguan Antonio Pupiro as assistant referees, while Elfath will work alongside US officials Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins.
Concacaf President Victor Montagliani hailed the achievement: “The appointment of Concacaf match officials to both FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals is a historic moment and a source of immense pride for our Confederation.
“It reflects the exceptional quality, professionalism, and dedication our referees have demonstrated throughout their preparation and the tournament. It also highlights the significant progress we have made in referee development across our region under the leadership of our reorganised Refereeing Department.
“To be entrusted with two of the most important matches in world football is an extraordinary honour and a testament to the world-class standard our match officials have achieved.
“On behalf of the entire Concacaf football family, I congratulate Iván, Ismail, and their assistant referees on this remarkable achievement, and I wish them every success. Their appointments are a source of inspiration for referees across our 41 Member Associations and further demonstrate the important contribution Concacaf continues to make to the global game.”
CMC
