Who Is the Female Referee in Ecuador vs Germany at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Penso managed cards and VAR reviews in the Group E match, as FIFA said women make up less than 4% of the 170 appointed officials.
- Today, Mexican official Katia Itzel García debuts as center referee in the Netherlands versus Tunisia match in Kansas City, marking her first assignment at a men's World Cup.
- Four years ago in Qatar, FIFA included women in men's World Cup officiating for the first time; the 2026 tournament expanded this with six female officials from CONCACAF.
- FIFA appointed 170 officials for this tournament, including 52 center referees, with the six CONCACAF women—including American Tori Penso and García—representing less than 4% of the total.
- At 33, García becomes the first Mexican woman to referee a men's World Cup match, marking a historic achievement for women's officiating.
- Ranked as a top referee, García previously officiated the 2024 Paris Olympics and has built a career as a center referee in international soccer.
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36 Articles
Over one and a half million people watched Tunisia-Netherlands on Thursday night, and with it, the first World Cup match for the Dutch team to be officiated by a female referee, Katia Garcia from Mexico. There was a lot of criticism, but why shouldn't a woman be able to referee? In Nieuws van de Dag, Lale Gül looks back on the commotion surrounding the latest match.
Katia Garcia was the first Mexican referee to lead a men's World Cup game – despite death threats and years of hate news.
This year's World Championships in the USA, Canada and Mexico will feature six female referees. The first time a female referee team officiated at the World Championships was in Qatar four years ago.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Katia Itzel Garcia Becomes First Mexican Woman to Referee Match at Global Event
Get latest articles and stories on Sports at LatestLY. Katia Itzel Garcia has made history by becoming the first Mexican woman to officiate a match at the FIFA World Cup, marking a significant milestone in international football officiating. Sports News | FIFA World Cup 2026: Katia Itzel Garcia Becomes First Mexican Woman to Referee Match at Global Event.
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The World Cup has had a historic day for women’s arbitration. Two women are in charge of the arbitration of two parties corresponding to the third round of the group phase. The American Tori Penso has led the meeting between Ecuador and Germany, and the Mexican Katia Itzel García makes her debut as a central referee in the duel between the Netherlands and Tunisia, in Kansas City. The presence of both represents a new step in the process that beg…
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