FIFA has announced that six women will be among the 170 referees at the upcoming World Cup.
The move follows the historic moment in 2022 when Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup final.
All the women selected are from the Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) and have a history of playing at the highest level. They will take on a variety of roles at the tournament, with two appointed as referees, three as assistant linesmen and one as a VAR operator.
 The main refereeing duties will be shouldered by American Tori Penso, known for her role in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, and Katia Itzel Garcia. In fact, Garcia makes history as the first female referee from Mexico to participate in the tournament. The line managers are Brooke Mayo and Katherine Nesbitt from the United States, along with Mexican Sandra Ramirez. The representation is rounded out by Tatiana Guzman from Nicaragua, who has already made a pioneering contribution by officiating top-flight men’s matches in her homeland. She will provide her services from the video assistant referee room at the World Cup stadiums.