Ismail Elfath was accompanying his children to a Texas park when he received a notification confirming his selection for his second World Cup. For a referee, this achievement signifies eight years of consistency.
The World Cup represents the peak of the profession, with only a small number of officials selected every four years. Former Swiss referee Urs Meier noted that being the top official in one's own country does not guarantee selection. While some nations may provide two referees, others see their best officials excluded. For example, despite Daniel Siebert refereeing the Champions League final on May 30, Fifa chose his compatriot Felix Zwayer for the World Cup instead.
Between tournaments, Fifa monitors candidates via reports from former referees at matches and remote viewing. Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s refereeing chief, once texted Premier League referee Anthony Taylor regarding his movement after a European game. Kathryn Nesbitt, the first woman to officiate a men’s World Cup knockout match, recalled instructors questioning decisions she made months prior in Major League Soccer.
A single error can lead to exclusion. Tom Henning Øvrebø, previously one of Europe's top referees, lost his 2010 World Cup spot after denying Chelsea a penalty in a 2009 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. Similarly, José María Sánchez Martínez was replaced by Alejandro Hernández Hernández for the 2026 World Cup following inconsistent performances.
Missing a selection can be a permanent setback. In June 2025, Serie A referee Marco Guida expressed how the fear of missing the tournament impacted his mental health while recovering from a hamstring injury. Guida, who was eventually omitted by Fifa, feared that by the next tournament he would be too old, echoing the experience of Øvrebø.
Elfath himself faced uncertainty during the selection cycle after sustaining a severe knee injury during the 2024 Copa América. He returned to the pitch a year later following two surgeries. Before securing his spot, he had to pass Fifa’s rigorous fitness tests, which include 40 timed 75m sprints with 18-second recovery periods, alongside additional requirements for World Cup candidates.
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