Female referees will again take charge at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with FIFA naming six women among the match officials for the tournament to be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The global football body confirmed that a total of 52 referees were selected for the expanded 48-team competition, with six of them being women, continuing a trend first introduced at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, and will be officiated by a record 170 match officials drawn from all six continental confederations.
Female Referees at World Cup 2026
Tori Penso
Tori Penso is one of the standout names among the six female referees selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and she is set to make history in the tournament.
Penso, from the United States, is among the two female centre referees appointed for the competition.
Her selection marks a major milestone, as she becomes the first American woman ever chosen to referee a men’s FIFA World Cup match.
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She began officiating professionally in 2015 in the National Women’s Soccer League before moving into the men’s game.
By 2020, she was refereeing in Major League Soccer (MLS), one of the top leagues in North America.
Penso has also built strong international credentials.
She was part of the officiating team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she handled top-level matches, including the final.
Katia Itzel García
Katia Itzel García is the second female center referee selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining Tori Penso in taking charge of matches on football’s biggest stage.
The Mexican official has steadily risen through the ranks of international officiating, earning recognition for her calm decision-making and strong control of games.
García has already built a solid reputation within CONCACAF competitions and domestic Mexican football, where she has officiated in top-tier men’s matches.
According to FIFA, her experience in high-pressure fixtures played a key role in FIFA’s decision to include her in the 2026 World Cup list.
Her selection is also significant for the host region.
With the tournament taking place across North America, García’s presence gives Mexico representation not only among players but also among match officials at the highest level.
Kathryn Nesbitt
Kathryn Nesbitt is one of the assistant female referees selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, continuing her presence at the highest level of international football.
The American official brings valuable experience, having also served on the officiating team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where she helped make history as one of the first women to work in the men’s tournament.
Nesbitt has built a strong reputation in Major League Soccer, where she regularly serves as an assistant referee in top-flight men’s matches.
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Her consistent performances at the domestic and international levels earned her another call-up to the expanded 2026 tournament.
Brooke Mayo
Brooke Mayo is among the assistant referees selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining a small group of women trusted to officiate at the highest level of the men’s game.
The American official has steadily built her career through consistent performances in domestic competitions, including Major League Soccer, where she has gained experience handling fast-paced, high-pressure matches.
Sandra Ramírez
Sandra Ramírez is one of the assistant referees selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representing Mexico on the global stage.
She has built her career within Mexican domestic football, where she has officiated in top-level matches and earned recognition for her consistency and accuracy on the touchline.
Her performances in national and regional competitions contributed to her selection by FIFA for the World Cup.
Karen Díaz Medina
Karen Díaz Medina completes the list of the six women selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, serving as one of the assistant referees.
The Mexican official returns to the global stage after making history at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where she became one of the first women to officiate in a men’s World Cup match.
Díaz Medina has continued to build on that milestone, maintaining her place among the top assistant referees through consistent performances in domestic and international competitions.
Her experience at the highest level made her a strong candidate for selection once again in 2026.
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