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American referee Ismail Elfath will be the man in charge of Brazil’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Norway, FIFA has confirmed.
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Elfath will be in charge of one of the biggest games of the Round of 16. The match involves high stakes as five-time world champions Brazil look to maintain their title aspirations against a stellar Norwegian team led by Erling Haaland. The match will take place at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 5.
Full Referee Team for Brazil vs Norway
Ismail Elfath will be the man in charge of Brazil’s clash with Norway, continuing his involvement in some of the competition’s biggest matches.
The American will be supported by his team of assistants, Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins. Said Martínez is the fourth official. Walter López will be the reserve assistant referee.
Elfath is one of the most seasoned referees in international football, having served at previous FIFA World Cups, the FIFA Club World Cup, and many CONCACAF tournaments. He has also gained a reputation in Major League Soccer, having regularly officiated playoff games and cup finals.
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His appointment is a testament to FIFA’s faith in his ability to run a potentially high-pressure knockout between two talented teams.
The referee officiated Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Cameroon in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In the current World Cup, Elfath has been the referee in the Netherlands vs Japan, which ended in 2-2.
The match officials for @FIFAWorldCup matches 91 and 92 have been appointed.
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 3, 2026
The American was also part of Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay, which saw a red card to Uruguay’s Canobbio
His performance on July 5 will be under intense scrutiny, especially as Brazil and Norway have attacking stars like Vinicius Junior and Erling Haaland who can make a difference in a single moment.
As the quarter-finals are in play, all the big decisions made by Elfath and his crew could be crucial as the pair of World Cup aspiring countries are joined by the referee and his staff.
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This story was originally published July 5, 2026 at 12:50 PM.