England and Argentina are set to battle it out for a coveted place in the World Cup final.

All eyes will turn to Atlanta as the Three Lions and the Albiceleste renew their fierce World Cup rivalry.

The clash between England and Argentina remains one of international football’s most iconic rivalries, and their upcoming World Cup showdown on Wednesday night promises to be another unforgettable encounter.

Across all competitions, the two nations have met 15 times, with England winning three of their five World Cup meetings – although only once in the knockout rounds.

The reigning world champions, Argentina, will look to extend their title defence against Thomas Tuchel’s England side, who had to battle hard to secure their semi-final berth against Norway.

It took extra time for England to complete their mission of keeping their dream of winning a first World Cup since 1966 alive, marking their second semi-final appearance in eight years.

Argentina also required an additional 30 minutes to overcome Switzerland in their quarter-final, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez finding the net to secure victory.

Lionel Messi will aim to guide Argentina one step closer to a record-equalling fourth world title, as they take on England’s dynamic duo of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

As anticipation builds, fans are asking: who will officiate this high-stakes semi-final in Georgia?

Ismail Elfath has been appointed as the referee for the England vs Argentina semi-final at Atlanta Stadium. The American match official is regarded as something of a lucky charm for Lionel Messi, having been involved in some of the forward’s notable triumphs.

Elfath served as the fourth official during Argentina’s World Cup final victory over France in 2022 and was also the referee when Messi lifted his first trophy with Inter Miami in the 2023 Leagues Cup final.

Born in Morocco, Elfath moved to the United States at the age of 18 under the Diversity Immigrant Visa programme and later became a naturalised U.S. citizen.

The 44-year-old has already officiated three matches at the current World Cup, including Japan versus the Netherlands, Uruguay versus Spain, and Norway’s round-of-16 win over Brazil.

Throughout his career, Elfath has overseen 334 competitive fixtures, primarily in Major League Soccer, maintaining an average of just over three yellow cards per match.

For this crucial semi-final, Elfath will be supported by his compatriots Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins as assistant referees, while Italy’s Maurizio Mariani will serve as the fourth official.