ALBAWABA - Tori Penso, the 39-year old referee from Florida, will be officiating the World Cup match between Czechia and South Africa.
FIFA's Referees Committee has announced the officiating team for today's 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Czechia and South Africa as the two teams are set to open the second round of Group A fixtures this evening at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in a group that also includes Mexico and South Korea.
FIFA has appointed American referee Tori Penso to officiate the Group A match between Czechia and South Africa, Penso began refereeing in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2020 and became the first American referee selected to officiate a FIFA Women's World Cup final in 2023.
Her appointment at the 2026 World Cup marks another milestone in her career, as she will become the first American woman to serve as the on-field referee in a men's World Cup match. Previously, French referee Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman to officiate a men's World Cup match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The full officiating crew for the match is as follows:
- First Assistant Referee: Brooke Mayo (United States)
- Second Assistant Referee: Kathryn Nesbitt (United States)
- Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)
- Reserve Assistant Referee: Isaac Trevis (New Zealand)
- Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Tatiana Guzmán (Nicaragua)
- Assistant VAR: Joe Dickerson (United States)
- Reserve VAR: Mohammed Obaid Khadim (United Arab Emirates)
