World Cup officiating milestone: all-American all-women crew referees Czechia vs South Africa

World Cup officiating reached a landmark moment on June 18 in Atlanta. Tori Penso served as center referee, while Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt acted as assistant referees for the Group A match Czechia vs South Africa, which finished 1-1. This was the first time a World Cup officiating team made up entirely of Americans and all women was assigned to a men’s FIFA World Cup match. It was also only the second instance in the tournament’s 96-year history where an all-women crew officiated any men’s World Cup game. Penso, 39, became the first American woman to referee as center official in a men’s World Cup. The trio previously worked together at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Penso refereed the 2023 Women’s World Cup final—highlighting a rapid rise in top-level international officiating. FIFA’s decision to keep the crew nationality fully American is notable, as the organization typically mixes officials from different confederations to limit perceived bias. With no major controversies in a 1-1 draw, the focus remains on the milestone rather than match outcomes.