Three American women will take charge of a men’s World Cup match on Thursday, in a first for the tournament.
Tori Penso will serve as referee for the South Africa versus Czechia game in Atlanta on June 18, with Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt as assistant referees. It is the second time an all-woman officiating crew has worked a men’s World Cup match, and the first time all three officials are American.
The trio also worked together at the 2023 women’s World Cup final. Penso was the lead referee for the match between England and Spain.
The first all-woman team to officiate a men’s World Cup game came four years ago in Qatar. France’s Stephanie Frappart led the crew for the Germany versus Costa Rica group-stage match, assisted by Neuza Back of Brazil and Karen Diaz of Mexico. Frappart also became the first woman to officiate a men’s World Cup match.
Penso is the first American woman to be a lead referee at the men’s World Cup. She has been a soccer referee since 2013 and has officiated matches in Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League.
Last year, Penso was one of 35 referees selected to work FIFA’s men’s Club World Cup.
“Female officials are capable, whether that be physically or mentally or technically. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far,” Penso told the Treasure Coast Newspapers, part of the USA TODAY Network, last year.
“There’s still so much for us to do.”
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