Overview
- Tori Penso served as the center referee for Czechia vs South Africa, becoming the first American woman to referee a men’s FIFA World Cup match on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
- Her assistants Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt joined Penso to form the first all‑American, all‑women on‑field officiating crew at a men’s World Cup match.
- The match in Atlanta ended in a 1–1 draw and produced no major controversies, underscoring the crew’s prior high‑pressure experience working together.
- Penso’s appointment builds on a strong resume that includes the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, MLS appointments and international tournaments, and FIFA also named Mexico’s Katia Itzel García as the tournament’s other female central referee.
- Observers say the assignment is a visibility milestone that could help recruit and retain women referees in a field where U.S. female representation remains lower than in many countries.