Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo, and Kathryn Nesbitt became the first all-American, all-women officiating crew to work a World Cup match. The trio took charge of a group-stage game, marking a milestone for gender equality in sports officiating. Their assignment signals a shift toward more inclusive practices at the highest level of international soccer.
Who the Officials Are
Penso served as the referee, with Mayo and Nesbitt as assistant referees. All three are experienced professionals who have worked top-flight matches in the United States and internationally. Penso previously refereed in the National Women's Soccer League and at FIFA tournaments. Mayo and Nesbitt have also officiated in major competitions, including the Olympics and World Cup qualifiers. Their combined expertise made them a natural fit for the assignment.
Women have officiated World Cup matches before, but never as a full crew from the same country. The United States has a deep pool of female referees and assistants, but this is the first time one nation’s all-women team has taken the field together at a World Cup. The milestone highlights progress in a field that has long been male-dominated. It also reflects broader efforts by FIFA and national federations to recruit and promote women into officiating roles.
The achievement may inspire more women to pursue careers in officiating. Seeing a full crew of American women run a World Cup match sends a clear signal that gender is not a barrier to top assignments. The hope among advocates is that this becomes the norm rather than the exception. Their presence at the tournament adds momentum to efforts already underway within FIFA and other governing bodies to increase diversity among match officials.
