Who Is the World Cup Female Ref? Tori Penso Makes History with 2 Female Assistants
Tori Penso becomes the first American woman to referee a men’s senior FIFA World Cup match and only the second woman ever.
- On Thursday, June 18, 2026, American referee Tori Penso will officiate the World Cup match between Czechia and South Africa at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, making history as the first American woman to referee a men's World Cup match.
- Penso, 39, previously made history in 2020 as the first woman to referee a Major League Soccer match in over 20 years, and she officiated the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Final between Spain and England.
- Joining Penso for the match, assistant referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt will form the only all-woman officiating trio at this year's tournament, a historic crew composition.
- This assignment makes Penso only the second woman in history to referee a men's World Cup match, following French official Stéphanie Frappart, and she has served on FIFA's international referees list since 2021.
- A Florida native who began refereeing at 14, Penso realized it could be a full-time career at 18 while attending an Olympic Development Program camp; she is married to fellow referee Chris Penso and they have three daughters.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Tori Penso is the second woman to whistle at a men's World Cup relay and leads the game Czech Republic against South Africa. "She is a very great woman and maybe even a little bit further than I am," says Bibiana Steinhaus, former referee at Magenta TV.
American Referee Tori Penso Becomes Only the Second Woman Ever to Officiate a Men’s FIFA World Cup Match: Everything You Need to Know About Her
What started as a part-time gig in her teenage years turned into a lifelong passion for Tori Penso. As one of the most reputable referees, she officiated several high-profile matches, but by leading Czechia and South Africa onto the pitch on Thursday, she added another feather to her cap in front of a home crowd on American soil. Tori Penso became the first American woman and just the second woman to take charge of a men’s World Cup match. She r…
Who is the referee for Czechia vs South Africa? Meet Tori Penso, the first American woman to take charge of a Men's FIFA World Cup match
Tori Penso made history in the Czechia-South Africa game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday (June 18), becoming the first American woman to officiate a men's match in the competition.
Meet Tori Penso: Historic referee for Bafana vs Czechia clash
39-year-old Tori Penso makes history as she officiates the World Cup match between Bafana Bafana and Czechia, taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday 18 June. TORI PENSO MAKES HISTORY AT BAFANA BAFANA VS CZECHIA MATCH American referee Tori Penso, who has been appointed to officiate the match between Bafana Bafana and Czechia, makes history as the first American woman to referee a men’s senior Fifa World Cup match. The ma…
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