Elfath, 44, came to the United States in 2001 at age 18 after winning a diversity visa lottery. He graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2006 and still lives in Austin.
Major League Soccer career
Elfath joined Major League Soccer as a fourth official in 2011 and made his refereeing debut in 2012. He has been named MLS Referee of the Year twice, in 2020 and 2022.
Among his notable domestic assignments are the 2013 USL Championship, the 2015 MLS All Star Game, and the 2022 MLS Cup between Los Angeles FC and the Philadelphia Union. In 2016, he was the referee for a USL match between New York Red Bulls II and Orlando City B that featured the first ever use of Video Assistant Referee during a match while the system was still being tested in the United Soccer League.
International assignments
Elfath became a FIFA listed referee in 2016 and has built a strong international resume. He worked the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, along with other international tournaments. More recently, he officiated the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup final, a role that marks him among the top referees in the North American and Caribbean region.
Elfath was at risk of missing the 2026 World Cup after an injury during the 2024 Copa America. He underwent multiple tests and evaluations to confirm he was fit to referee at the tournament and healthy enough that the injury would likely not flare up again.
2026 World Cup assignments
It is not yet known which matches Elfath will handle during the 2026 World Cup. FIFA selects officiating crews incrementally as the tournament moves forward. Given his track record and FIFA's history of trusting him in high pressure situations, he could be assigned to several important group stage and knockout stage matches.
