Overview
- FIFA’s official referee list for the 2026 World Cup includes Katia Itzel García as a central referee for matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
- García will be one of two Mexican referees at the tournament alongside César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos.
- Observers noted the omission of assistant referee Karen Janett Díaz Medina, who served at Qatar 2022 but is not on the new roster.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated García and pointed to updated training programs, including work at the National School for Coaches, to grow women’s participation in officiating.
- García’s résumé includes the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the Paris 2024 Olympics, first woman to referee a men’s Gold Cup match in 2025, experience in men’s Liga MX, and Mexico’s 2024 National Sports Award, with the World Cup opening set for June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.