Who is Ismail Elfath, the referee for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final between Toluca and Tigres?
Ismail Elfath is the referee appointed for the Concachampions final, but it is worth recalling when he angered Cristiano at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Toluca and Tigres will decide the new CONCACAF Champions Cup champion this Saturday, May 30, at Estadio Nemesio Diez, after both clubs eliminated MLS teams to set up an all-Mexican final. Despite that, there will be a US presence in the officiating crew, led by the same referee who angered Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Tigres defeated Nashville SC in the semi-finals, while Toluca overcame LAFC, who featured Bouanga, Lloris, and Son, securing an all-Mexican final and guaranteeing a new champion. Curiously, Cruz Azul, which recently won the 2026 Liga MX Clausura against Pumas, remains the tournament’s defending champion after a 5-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps in the final.
Ismail Elfath, a US referee with experience in MLS matches, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the World Cup, the Olympic Games, Copa América, the Gold Cup, and the Club World Cup, was involved in a notable incident with Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading goalscorer in football, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, an episode that left a lasting impression due to its unusual nature.
Portugal made their 2022 World Cup debut against Ghana, and the controversial moment came in the 31st minute when Cristiano Ronaldo shielded the ball with his back and, after winning it, fired a powerful shot into the net. However, referee Ismail Elfath disallowed the goal for an alleged foul, provoking Ronaldo’s anger, an image that went around the world and is still widely remembered today.
Now, the officiating team will be led by Ismail Elfath as referee, with Corey Michael Parker, Kyle Thomas Atkins, and Caleb Josef Wales as assistant referees, while Oshane Anthony Nation will serve as VAR. The CONCACAF Champions Cup final will be decided this weekend between Pizarro’s Tigres and Toluca, led by ‘El Turco’ Mohamed, both seeking glory after failing to make a strong impact in Liga MX this season.
Todo se define el sábado 🔥🏆 pic.twitter.com/jtIJ2c5WLJ
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) May 28, 2026
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