Tori Penso is one of the 170 match officials who is refereeing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
She was in charge of the Group A showdown between Czechia and South Africa taking place at the Atlanta Stadium in the US state of Georgia.
As both teams battled for the points, Penso etched her name in history books, becoming the first American woman ever selected to referee a men’s FIFA World Cup match.
Who is Referee Tori Penso?
Although the focus would be on the players, the match refree has become a major talking point for her performance during the encounter.
The 39-year-old is a veteran when it comes to officiating matches, having begun her career with the National Women’s Soccer League before moving to the Major League Soccer.
The Florida-born match official had set the record of being the first woman to referee a regular season match in 20 years.
Her rise has continued rapidly having officiated the final of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England, per World Soccer.
Penso has also led proceedings in the football event of the Olympic Games, boasting a huge wealth of experience.
Following her performance during the Czechia vs South Africa World Cup fixture, where she was assisted by fellow compatriots eferees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt, the football world has continued to react.
Don Garber wrote on X:
“History for @PROreferees Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo, and Kathryn Nesbitt today. The trio becomes the first all-American female crew assigned to a men’s FIFA World Cup match, officiating South Africa vs. Czechia in Atlanta. A well-deserved moment for all three.”
Bailey Johnson added:
“A little bit of history here in Atlanta as the first all-American, all-female officiating crew for a men’s World Cup game — Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt — takes the field.”
: The Czech Republic vs South Africa World Cup match is officially underway with the first-ever all-female refereeing team in a men’s World Cup fixture.
Tori Penso is taking charge as referee, alongside assistant referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn… pic.twitter.com/WXT1VxRVSJ
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) June 18, 2026
Toby Writes posited:
“Her name is Mary Victoria Penso. The first American woman to referee at a men’s World Cup and the second woman to do so. The first woman was Stephanie Frappart, she officiated the Costa Rica v Germany game at the last World Cup in Qatar.”
World Cup First Round Completed
Yankee Scores earlier reported that the first round of matches in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been completed, the dust has settled on 12 groups and 24 matches and the picture that has emerged is both thrilling and, in some places, genuinely shocking.
