Tori Penso becomes the second woman to referee a men's FIFA World Cup match, taking the whistle for Group A's Czechia vs South Africa in Atlanta with a three-woman crew—Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt assisting. A 39-year-old former MLS official and the referee of the 2023 Women's World Cup final, Penso's appointment marks a clear step forward for women officiating high-profile men's international fixtures.
Tori Penso breaks ground in men's World Cup, leads all-women crew in Atlanta
Tori Penso was appointed referee for Group A's Czechia vs South Africa in Atlanta, becoming the second woman to preside over a men's FIFA World Cup match. Her assistants, Americans Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt, completed a three-woman officiating team — a rare and notable configuration at the tournament.
Immediate context: the match and the milestone
The Czechia–South Africa fixture put Penso in the global spotlight. The assignment follows Penso's steady climb through U.S. and international refereeing ranks, and it places her alongside France's Stephanie Frappart, who became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match in 2022. For fans and officials alike, the sight of an all-female crew on a men's World Cup pitch is both symbolic and practical.
Career arc and credentials that earned her this role
Penso, 39, started refereeing as a teenager and progressed through the U.S. development pathway, attending the Olympic Development Program camp as a youth. She joined Major League Soccer's refereeing ranks in September 2020 and has been on FIFA's international referee panel since 2021. Her résumé includes men's CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches and the marquee assignment of the 2023 Women's World Cup final between Spain and England.
Why this appointment matters
This is more than a milestone for representation; it reflects growing institutional confidence in women officials handling elite men's matches. High-profile appointments like this help normalize female referees in top-level men's competitions, encouraging federations to expand opportunities and talent pipelines. For U.S. soccer, Penso's role showcases the depth of officiating development domestically.
Performance stakes and what success looks like
At this level, clarity, control and consistency define success. Penso's prior experience in MLS and international qualifying gives her the practical background to manage tempo and player interactions. A strong performance in Atlanta would strengthen the case for more appointments to men's knockout-stage fixtures and signal that gender is no barrier to the highest officiating challenges.
Where this could lead for refereeing and the World Cup
If FIFA continues to appoint women to men's World Cup matches based on merit, the tournament could accelerate a broader shift across confederations and leagues. That would expand career trajectories for female referees and deepen the pool of elite match officials worldwide. For now, Penso's presence on the pitch is a concrete step toward that future.
Legacy and immediate takeaway
Tori Penso’s Atlanta appointment is both earned and overdue: earned through sustained professional growth, overdue in the sense that representation at this level has lagged behind player integration.
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Her performance will matter on the day, but the appointment itself already advances the narrative that elite officiating is open to all who reach the standards required.
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