Tori Penso becomes first American woman to referee a men’s World Cup match

Tori Penso, a 40‑year‑old Florida native, made history by becoming the first American woman – and the second woman ever – to officiate a men’s FIFA World Cup match. She also led the tournament’s first all‑American, all‑female officiating crew, which oversaw two group‑stage games in June: South Africa vs Czech Republic and Ecuador vs Germany.

Penso’s achievement follows a series of firsts: she refereed the senior final at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and is Major League Soccer’s first full‑time female referee. Women remain a tiny minority among officials, with only six of the 170 referees (about 3.5%) selected for this World Cup. In the matches she booked seven players, including Arsenal star Piero Hincapié, and made a decisive hand‑ball call that gave South Africa an equalising penalty.

Speaking after the games, Penso emphasized that her milestone is about expanding opportunities for women in sport and beyond, saying, “Women belong in sport, in boardrooms, and places where maybe they haven’t historically had a seat.”