While the players have captured most of the attention at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of the tournament’s most historic stories has unfolded among the match officials. American referee Tori Penso has cemented her place in soccer history, becoming the first American woman to officiate a men’s FIFA World Cup match and only the second female referee ever to serve as the center official at the sport’s biggest event.
Penso’s historic debut came on June 18, 2026, when she was appointed to referee the Group A match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta. The assignment marked another milestone for women’s officiating at the highest level of men’s soccer, following French referee Stéphanie Frappart, who became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match during the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Penso was joined by fellow Americans Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt, creating an all-female officiating crew for the match. The trio delivered a composed performance in a contest that finished in a 1-1 draw.
One of Penso’s biggest decisions came in the 83rd minute when she awarded South Africa a penalty after ruling that a Czech defender committed a handball offense inside the penalty area. The decision stood following review and played a key role in the tightly contested draw.
FIFA later rewarded Penso with a second group-stage assignment, officiating Germany’s Group E clash against Ecuador. The match featured several challenging decisions that highlighted the increasing importance of VAR in modern football.
In the third minute, Penso allowed play to continue after Germany’s Aleksandar Pavlović won possession before the opening goal, determining that no foul had occurred during the buildup. Early in the second half, she awarded Germany a penalty, but Video Assistant Referee Joe Dickerson recommended an on-field review after identifying a foul earlier in the attacking sequence. Following the review, Penso overturned her original decision and disallowed the penalty. Ecuador went on to rally for a stunning 2-1 victory.
Penso’s appointment to the 2026 World Cup represents the latest achievement in a career filled with groundbreaking milestones.
After joining the United States Soccer Federation’s referee program in 2013, Penso worked women’s collegiate competitions before becoming a regular official in the National Women’s Soccer League. Her rapid development earned her an invitation to the Professional Referee Organization’s PRO2 development program following the 2019 Generation Adidas Cup.
She continued to gain experience as a fourth official in Major League Soccer while refereeing matches in the USL Championship and NWSL before making history on September 25, 2020. That day, Penso became the first full-time female referee in MLS history and the first woman to referee an MLS regular-season match since Sandy Hunt in 2000.
Her performances led to increasingly prestigious domestic appointments, including officiating MLS Cup Playoff matches in both 2024 and 2025. She also served as the referee for the 2025 U.S. Open Cup Final between Austin FC and Nashville SC.
Penso’s international reputation grew even more rapidly.
In January 2023, FIFA selected her for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Throughout the tournament, she officiated two group-stage matches, a Round of 16 contest, and the semifinal between Australia and England.
Her outstanding performances culminated in the sport’s highest honor for a referee: the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final between Spain and England. Alongside assistant referees Kathryn Nesbitt and Brooke Mayo, Penso became the first American referee to oversee a FIFA World Cup Final, men’s or women’s, and the first referee from the Americas to take charge of a Women’s World Cup Final.
Penso has also earned assignments at other major FIFA tournaments. She officiated the opening match and third-place match at the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia before returning for the 2025 edition, where she worked two group-stage matches.
In 2024, FIFA selected her to officiate at the Summer Olympics in Paris, where she was assigned the opening Group A match between host nation France and Colombia.
Now, with two men’s World Cup matches on her résumé, Penso has continued to redefine what is possible for referees in American soccer. Her steady rise from domestic leagues to the world’s biggest competitions reflects years of excellence, consistency, and professionalism.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues across North America, Tori Penso’s achievements stand as one of the tournament’s most inspiring stories. Her success not only represents a landmark moment for American officiating but also signals the continued progress of women breaking barriers at the highest levels of international football.
