These six women are making history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking on some of football’s biggest officiating roles on the world’s biggest stage.
Here’s everything you need to know about them.
Tatiana Guzmán
Tatiana Guzmán of Nicaragua is the only woman selected as a Video Match Official for the 2026 World Cup.
She has previously worked as a VAR official at major FIFA tournaments and continues to break new ground for women in football officiating. Her appointment highlights the growing role women are playing not only on the pitch but also in football’s increasingly important video review system.
Kathryn Nesbitt
Kathryn Nesbitt returns to the World Cup as an assistant referee after making history at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The American official is widely respected for her work in Major League Soccer and has become one of the most experienced assistant referees in North America. Before becoming a full-time match official, Nesbitt worked as a professional chemist, balancing science and football early in her career.
Sandra Ramírez
Sandra Ramírez is representing Mexico as an assistant referee at the 2026 World Cup.
Over the years, her performances in domestic and international competitions helped earn her a place among the tournament’s match officials. She is one of several Mexican officials at the tournament.
Brooke Mayo
Brooke Mayo of the United States is serving as an assistant referee at the 2026 World Cup.
She was part of the officiating team for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final and has worked extensively in top-level professional football in the United States. Over the years, she has earned appointments to several major international tournaments, building a strong reputation for consistency and accuracy.
Katia Itzel García
Mexico’s Katia Itzel García is the other woman selected as a referee for the tournament. She is the first Mexican woman selected to referee a men’s FIFA World Cup match. García has officiated Liga MX matches and represented Mexico at major international tournaments. Her selection is especially significant as Mexico co-hosts the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Canada.
Tori Penso
Tori Penso of the United States is one of only two women selected as referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
She is the first American woman selected to referee a men’s World Cup match. Penso previously officiated the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, one of the biggest appointments in international football. She has also refereed matches in Major League Soccer, becoming one of the few women to regularly officiate in the top men’s league in the United States.
