Tori Penso leads a historic all-female officiating team at Men’s World Cup in Czechia vs. South Africa
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marked a historic milestone during the Czechia vs. South Africa match as an all-female, all-American refereeing trio led by Tori Penso took charge of the fixture.
History was made at the 2026 Men’s World Cup on June 18 during the Group A clash between the Czech Republic and South Africa.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, an all-female, all-American on-field officiating crew took charge of a match.
The milestone event at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium highlighted football’s ongoing global push toward broader inclusivity and representation.
American referee Tori Penso served as the center official for the high-stakes match, becoming only the second woman ever to referee a men’s World Cup game.
She follows France’s Stéphanie Frappart, who initially broke the barrier during the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Penso was supported on the pitch by experienced assistant referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt.
Adding to the historic nature of the fixture, assistant referee Brooke Mayo became the first publicly out LGBTQ+ official to take part in an on-field role at a men’s World Cup.
The trio, who previously officiated the 2023 Women’s World Cup final together, earned widespread praise for their technical expertise, paving the way for future generations of diverse match officials.
