Full Breakdown
All-Female American Referee Trio Officiates Men’s World Cup Match in Atlanta
6/19/2026, 5:32:18 AM
Milestone Match: Czechia vs. South Africa, Group A (June 18, 2026)
On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the Group A match between Czechia and South Africa was played at Atlanta Stadium, also known as Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The officiating crew consisted of head referee Tori Penso and assistant referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt. This was the first men’s World Cup match ever to be overseen by an all-female American crew and the second all-female crew in World Cup history.
Background & Context: Prior All-Female Crews and Penso’s Career Milestones
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar featured the first all-female crew to officiate a men’s match, with Kathryn Nesbitt among the referees. Three years later, the same trio—Penso, Mayo, and Nesbitt—served as the all-female American crew for the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand, marking the first time an all-female American crew officiated a Women’s World Cup final. Tori Penso’s earlier milestones include becoming the first woman to referee a Major League Soccer match in more than two decades in 2020 and joining the FIFA international referee panel in 2021.
Key Figures: Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo, and Kathryn Nesbitt
Tori Penso, a 39-year-old native of Stuart, Florida, previously officiated the 2023 Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England and has refereed multiple matches in the most recent FIFA Club World Cup held in the United States. Brooke Mayo serves as an assistant referee and has worked alongside Penso and Nesbitt in previous international assignments. Kathryn Nesbitt, also an assistant referee, was part of the first all-female crew at the Qatar 2022 men’s World Cup and returned for the 2026 assignment.
Data & Statistics: Firsts and Numerical Highlights
- Date and venue: June 18, 2026, Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium).
- Match: Czechia vs. South Africa, Group A stage.
- First U.S. woman to serve as head referee in a men’s World Cup match.
- Second woman overall to officiate a men’s World Cup match; the first was Stéphanie Frappart in Qatar 2022.
- First all-American female crew assigned to a men’s World Cup match.
- Second all-female crew in men’s World Cup history; the first was at Qatar 2022.
Why It Matters: Implications for Gender Representation in Soccer Officiating
The assignment demonstrates progress toward gender parity in elite soccer officiating by placing women in visible, decision-making roles on the sport’s most prominent stage. It also highlights the United States’ development pipeline for referees, as the trio’s prior experience includes the 2023 Women’s World Cup final and multiple FIFA Club World Cup matches. Observers may view the crew’s presence as a benchmark for future appointments of women to high-profile matches.
What’s Next: Future Assignments and Outstanding Information
FIFA has not released details regarding subsequent matches for the trio, leaving their future tournament schedule unspecified.
