ATLANTA (April 16, 2025) - U.S. Soccer and FIFA Referee Tori Penso, Assistant Referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt and Video Assistant Referee Armando Villarreal have been appointed as match officials for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the United States from June 14-July 13.
Continuing in their historic achievements among American Referees, Penso, Mayo and Nesbitt are the only women selected to be on-field at this summer’s Club World Cup. The full quartet of officials has already accomplished significant milestones for U.S. Referees, with Penso, Mayo and Nesbitt becoming the first Americans to lead an officiating crew during a FIFA World Cup Final, coming at the 2023 Women’s World Cup Final between Spain and England in Australia. Villarreal was also appointed as Assistant Video Referee Assistant for the 2023 Final.
The selection of the four U.S. Soccer Referees is another significant step on their quest for appointment to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In total, FIFA selected 117 officials from all six confederations to work matches at this year’s Club World Cup. Penso is one of 35 Referees chosen, while Mayo and Nesbitt are two of the 58 Assistant Referees selected, and Villarreal is one of 24 Video Assistant Referees appointed.
The expanded 32-team competition will take place in 11 U.S. cities and kicks off on July 13 when Inter Miami hosts Egyptian side Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Group stage play will run through June 26, followed by the Round of 16 (June 28-July 1), Quarterfinals (July 4-5), Semifinals (July 8-9) and Final on July 13 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
The selected officials are four of the 42 U.S. Soccer Referees that are part of the 2025 FIFA Panel, the world’s highest level of officiating. Selection grants the 42 officials the opportunity to referee at the highest levels of international soccer.
Referees from Canada, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua will also represent Concacaf at the Club World Cup. FIFA appoints its best match officials from around the world for its competitions.
About the U.S. Soccer Federation
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official governing body of the sport in the United States. Our vision is clear; we exist in service to soccer. Our ambition, working across the soccer ecosystem, is to ignite a national passion for the game.We believe soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good.We are focused in three areas: Soccer Everywhere, ensuring everyone, everywhere experiences the joy of soccer; Soccer Success, our 27 National Teams and pro leagues winning on the world stage; and Soccer Investment, maximizing and diversifying investments to sustainably grow the game at all levels.For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.
