2026 World Cup: New Controversy Surrounding Messi and Argentina; the British Are Already Furious

FIFA has appointed American referee Ismail Elfath to officiate the match between Argentina and England, a decision that immediately sparked debate, especially on social media.

The reason? His history with Lionel Messi. In the five matches Elfath has refereed featuring the Argentine star, the Albiceleste (or Messi’s team) has always won. This statistic has fueled suspicion and sarcasm among English fans.

Comments such as “Messi’s favorite referee” and “the Inter Miami ref” have appeared on social media, with some people even joking that the “final is already decided.” There was no shortage of memes and jokes, ranging from those imagining a photo together in the Maldives to those poking fun at an autographed jersey hidden in the VAR room.

The controversy, of course, stems solely from a curious statistical coincidence—but that was enough to fuel the debate among fans just hours before one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches. And there are even those who, again in a tongue-in-cheek tone, argue that to avoid any controversy, the referee should have been… selected directly by Harry Kane.