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Tori Penso is set to make some history this summer when the men’s World Cup comes to North America.
The 39-year-old from Florida is in line to become the first American woman to referee a game in the men’s World Cup. Penso was one of the 52 referees — along with 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials — that FIFA announced will work World Cup games on Thursday.
While Penso will be the first American woman to work as the lead referee on a men's World Cup game, Kathryn Nesbitt was the first to work a men's World Cup match in an official capacity, serving as a video assistant referee in Qatar in 2022. Nesbitt will be an assistant referee in this World Cup.
In 2022, France's Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.
Penso has been working as a soccer referee since 2013, officiating games in Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League. She was just the fourth woman to referee an MLS match. Last September, she was the lead official on an all-women refereeing crew for the U.S. Open Cup.
Last year, she was also one of 35 referees to work the FIFA Club World Cup. Penso also refereed the final of the women’s World Cup in 2023, the first American referee to garner that assignment.
“Female officials are capable, whether that be physically or mentally or technically. I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish so far,” Penso told the Treasure Coast Newspapers — a USA TODAY Network member — last year. “There's still so much for us to do.”
She added that officiating the men’s World Cup this summer was her “target.”
“I started out with the men's World Cup as a goal actually before I was even a FIFA referee. And it was mostly because it was in the United States,” Penso said. “I said, ‘What if? How cool would that be?’”
Penso played club soccer at Florida State and worked for years in digital marketing for companies like Red Bull and Coca-Cola. Her husband Chris Penso is also an MLS referee.
She won’t be the only woman refereeing games in the men’s World Cup this summer. Katia Itzel García, a 33-year-old from Mexico, was also named as one of the 52 referees.
In 2024, García became the first woman to officiate a Liga MX game in 20 years. She also officiated matches in the 2023 women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.
A full list of referees for the 2026 World Cup can be found HERE.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tori Penso becomes first American woman referee at men's World Cup
Continue reading...
The 39-year-old from Florida is in line to become the first American woman to referee a game in the men’s World Cup. Penso was one of the 52 referees — along with 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials — that FIFA announced will work World Cup games on Thursday.
While Penso will be the first American woman to work as the lead referee on a men's World Cup game, Kathryn Nesbitt was the first to work a men's World Cup match in an official capacity, serving as a video assistant referee in Qatar in 2022. Nesbitt will be an assistant referee in this World Cup.
In 2022, France's Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.
Penso has been working as a soccer referee since 2013, officiating games in Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League. She was just the fourth woman to referee an MLS match. Last September, she was the lead official on an all-women refereeing crew for the U.S. Open Cup.
Last year, she was also one of 35 referees to work the FIFA Club World Cup. Penso also refereed the final of the women’s World Cup in 2023, the first American referee to garner that assignment.
“Female officials are capable, whether that be physically or mentally or technically. I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish so far,” Penso told the Treasure Coast Newspapers — a USA TODAY Network member — last year. “There's still so much for us to do.”
She added that officiating the men’s World Cup this summer was her “target.”
“I started out with the men's World Cup as a goal actually before I was even a FIFA referee. And it was mostly because it was in the United States,” Penso said. “I said, ‘What if? How cool would that be?’”
Penso played club soccer at Florida State and worked for years in digital marketing for companies like Red Bull and Coca-Cola. Her husband Chris Penso is also an MLS referee.
She won’t be the only woman refereeing games in the men’s World Cup this summer. Katia Itzel García, a 33-year-old from Mexico, was also named as one of the 52 referees.
In 2024, García became the first woman to officiate a Liga MX game in 20 years. She also officiated matches in the 2023 women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.
A full list of referees for the 2026 World Cup can be found HERE.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tori Penso becomes first American woman referee at men's World Cup
Continue reading...
