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      Who is Portugal vs Ghana referee Ismail Elfath at World Cup 2022?

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      THE biggest tournament in world football is about to get underway, and referee Ismail Elfath is set to be in the thick of it.Elfath is the only American referee boarding the plane to Qatar, and will be a part of a large group of officials managing the games – and he takes charge of Portugal vs Ghana in the first round of group games.
      Ismail Elfath has been selected to referee at this year’s World CupCredit: Reuters
      Here is all you need to know about him.
      Who is Ismail Elfath?
      Ismail Elfath was born in Morocco in 1982 before moving to the United States at the age of eighteen.
      Elfath started his career as a fourth official in 2011, and made his MLS refereeing debut the following year.
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      Four years on, the 40-year-old became a registered FIFA official.
      Later that year, Elfath refereed the first ever match involving VAR, a system now used in the Premier League.
      In 2019, the Amercian got his international call-up, officiating at the 2019 Under-20 World Cup final between Ukraine and South Korea.
      This led to his involvement with the 2019 Club World Cup where he took charge of Liverpool’s semi-final 2-1 win over Monterrey.
      Elfath was the referee for the World Club Cup semi-final between Monterrey and LiverpoolCredit: Alamy
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      He has since won the MLS Referee of the Year two times and been selected to referee at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

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      Who is the Uruguay vs South Korea referee Clement Turpin at Word Cup 2022?

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      THERE will be a familiar face in the middle for Uruguay’s opening World Cup game against South Korea.Clement Turpin is a hugely experienced referee and was in charge for the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid last season.
      Turpin is only 39 but has over 10 years’ experienceCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Who is Clement Turpin?
      Turpin is one of the most experienced whistlers heading to this summer’s tournament.
      The Frenchman began in the National league in 2006, taking just two years to reach Ligue 1 and the highest rung in the domestic ladder.
      In 2010 he was given Fifa listed status, meaning he could branch out into Europe.
      Since then he has reffed in 2014 and 2018 World Cup qualifiers and was in the middle during Euro 2016 in his home country.
      Turpin was in the middle for last month’s Europa League finalCredit: PA
      You may recognise Turpin from the Europa League final in Gdansk last year, where he was ably assisted by Jérôme Brisard and Benjamin Pages.
      Those two assistants have worked with the Frenchman for years.
      Ahead of the 2021 match between Man Utd and Villarreal he said: “I feel very proud.
      “Not only for myself, but also for my assistants, who have accompanied me for a number of years, and for all referees in France.
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      “I never said to myself that I would referee a European final one day.
      “From the start, I preferred to set myself small targets and challenges along the way.
      “I’ve never had a particular role model as a referee, but I’ve watched other referees and taken little bits of what they do and incorporated them into my own refereeing.”
      World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World CupWorld Cup 2022 LIVE: Latest news and updates from Qatar
      World Cup schedule: What are the kick-off times for all the matches?
      World Cup prize money: How much does each winner earn?
      Who are the ITV pundits and commentators?
      Who are the BBC pundits and commentators?
      Meet England’s World Cup wags who are staying on a £1bn cruise ship More

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      Who is Germany vs Japan referee Ivan Barton? El Salvador ref at the 2022 World Cup

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      THE World Cup is here and Ivan Barton has been announced as one of the referees who will make sure games run smoothly in Qatar – and he is in charge of Germany’s opening game against Japan.Barton is one of three officials representing Central America at this year’s tournament.
      Ivan Barton took charge of Germany’s group game against Japan at the 2022 World CupCredit: Getty
      Here is some more information on him.
      Who is Ivan Barton?
      Ivan Barton was born in Santa Ana in 1991, making him the third-youngest referee at the World Cup, behind Kevin Ortega and Said Martinez.
      Barton currently referees in El Salvador’s Primera Division and was appointed as a FIFA referee in 2018.
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      The 31-year-old has plenty of experience officiating international tournaments, taking charge of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil.
      Here, he came across the likes of Manchester city star Phil Foden, who will be in Gareth Southgate’s plans for Qatar.
      Ivan Barton officiated at the Brazil Under-17 World Cup in 2017Credit: AP:Associated Press
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      Aside from football, Barton obtained a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Sciences from the University of El Salvador.
      He has since become a professor at the institution.

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      Who is Spain vs Costa Rica referee Mohammed Mohamed, and how many World Cups has he officiated at?

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      THE United Arab Emirates haven’t made it to the World Cup finals – but their top official has.Mohammed Mohamed will be one of the 36 referees in Qatar after being selected by Fifa chiefs – and he takes charge of Spain vs Costa Rica.
      Mohammed Mohamed will be reffing this summer in RussiaCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Here’s all you need to know about the man in the middle.Who is Mohammed Mohamed?
      Active since 2010, Mohammed Mohamed has been a regular in AFC competitions.
      He took charge of his first AFC Cup game in 2011 and immediately made his presence felt, dishing out eight yellow cards and a red.
      The UAE ref has calmed down since and has a reputation for being one of the most lenient on their way to Russia this summer, averaging just over three cards per game.
      Fans of England’s Young Lions will recognise him from 2017’s successful under-20 World Cup campaign, where he took charge of the quarter-final win over Mexico.
      The official is one of the most lenient at the finalsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Has he officiated at the World Cup before?
      This is Mohammed Mohamed’s second World Cup.
      In the build-up to the finals, he took charge of qualifying games including Uzbekistan vs Bahrain, South Korea vs China and Syria vs Uzbekistan.
      World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World CupWorld Cup 2022 LIVE: Latest news and updates from Qatar
      World Cup schedule: What are the kick-off times for all the matches?
      World Cup prize money: How much does each winner earn?
      Who are the ITV pundits and commentators?
      Who are the BBC pundits and commentators?
      Meet England’s World Cup wags who are staying on a £1bn cruise ship More

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      World Cup 2022 – Belgium vs Canada: Stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time for group game

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      BELGIUM take on underdogs Canada in their very first match-up at the Qatar World Cup. The Canadians finished top of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group, two places above big rivals USA.
      Belgium’s team of superstars are still yet to win a major trophyCredit: Getty
      Canada topped their World Cup qualifying group earlier this yearCredit: Reuters
      And now they’ll be looking to put in some big performances in the Middle East, having not competed in the World Cup since 1986.
      Belgium have had quite the team of superstars at their disrection over the past decade but have yet to put it altogether at a major tournament.
      The likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois are all still hoping to win a big trophy for their country.
      In Russia four years ago, Belgium were knocked out of the tournament by France in the semi-finals, before beating England 2-0 in the third-place playoff.

      When is Belgium vs Canada?

      Belgium’s clash with Canada will take place on Wednesday, November 23.
      The game will get going from 7pm UK time.
      Belgium vs Canada will be held at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan.
      The two sides have played once before in 1989 and the game finished 2-0 to Belgium.

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      What TV channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      Belgium vs Canada will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the BBC iPlayer, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Can I watch for FREE?
      Yes, the game is available to watch for FREE in the UK, so long as you have a TV licence. More

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      World Cup 2022 – Spain vs Costa Rice: Stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time for group stage clash

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      SPAIN take on tricky side Costa Rica in their opening 2022 World Cup group game. La Roja were the best international team in the world between 2008 and 2012, but those stars have retired and the new generation are finding their feet.
      Spain haven’t won the World Cup since their 2010 triumphCredit: AFP
      Costa Rica reached the knockout stages of the World Cup in 2014Credit: Getty
      They came close to reaching the final of Euro 2020 last year but were knocked out on penalties in the semi-final by Italy.
      Spain will be one of the stronger teams heading into the Qatar showpiece at the end of 2022 and they’ll be hoping they can go a step further than they did in 2018.
      Four years ago in Russia, Spain went out in the last-16, losing a penalty shootout to the tournament hosts.
      Costa Rica have their own World Cup history, as they surprised everyone in 2014 in Brazil, topping a group which contained Italy, England and Uruguay.

      When is Spain vs Costa Rica?

      Spain’s clash with Costa Rica will take place on Wednesday, November 23.
      The game will kick off at 4pm UK time.
      Spain vs Costa Rice will be held at the Al Thumana Stadium in Al Khor.
      The last time the two sides played each other was in 2017 and Spain won 5-0.

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      What TV channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      Spain vs Costa Rice will be shown live on ITV 1 in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the ITV Hub, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Can I watch for FREE?
      Yes, the game is available to watch for FREE in the UK, so long as you have a TV licence. More

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      World Cup 2022 – Germany vs Japan: Stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time for big game in Qatar

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      GERMANY kick off their World Cup 2022 campaign in a clash against Group E opponents Japan. The Germans were knocked out in the group stages four years ago at the Russia World Cup so will be looking for a different turnout this time.
      Germany will be hoping to improve on their 2018 World Cup campaignCredit: Getty
      Japan are Germany’s first opponents of the 2022 World CupCredit: Getty
      Players like Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry are now at the forefront of a resurgent German side.
      The four-time World Cup winners are looking to win their first major tournament since their triumph in Brazil in 2014.
      Japan are a tough international side to contend with, however, and will be hoping they can make it to the knockout stages once again.
      They were knocked out at the last-16 stage by Belgium in 2018, lossing 3-2 having been 2-0 up early in the game.

      When is Germany vs Japan?

      Germany’s big clash with Japan will take place on Wednesday, November 23.
      The match will kick off at 1pm UK time in the UK.
      Germany vs Japan will be held in the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan.
      The last time the two sides played each other was in 2019 and they drew 2-2.

      Most read in Football
      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Germany vs Japan will be shown live on ITV 1 in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the ITV Hub, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Can I watch for FREE?
      Yes, the game is available to watch for FREE in the UK, so long as you have a TV licence. More

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      World Cup 2022 – Morocco vs Croatia: Stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time for Group F clash

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      CROATIA begin their World Cup campaign with a clash against Morocco. The Croats nearly made history in 2018, reaching the final in Moscow but ultimatley losing to France 4-2.
      Croatia will be hoping they can repeat their 2018 World Cup heroicsCredit: Reuters
      Hakim Ziyech is set to be recalled to the Morocco squad for the 2022 World CupCredit: AFP
      Luka Modric and Co beat England in the semi-finals but the Three Lions got revenge at Euro 2020, beating Croatia 1-0 in the group stages.
      The likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ante Rebic and Sime Vrsaljko will all be in action alongside Modric this winter.

      Morocco, on the other hand, could welcome back Hakim Ziyech, who earlier this year stated he wouldn’t play for ex-head coach Vahid Halilhodzic again.
      But the Moroccan FA replaced Halilhodzic with Walid Regragui earlier this month, so Ziyech could find his way back into the team ahead of Qatar.
      What time does Morocco vs Croatia kick off?

      Croatia’s clash against Morocco will take place on Wednesday, November 23.
      Morocco vs Croatia will kick off at 10am UK time.
      The game will be played at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor.

      Most read in Football
      What TV channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      Morocco vs Croatia will be shown live on ITV 1 in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the ITV Hub, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Can I watch for FREE?
      Yes, the game is available to watch for FREE in the UK, so long as you have a TV licence. More