Referee Tori Penso along with assistant referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt are primed to make their debuts at FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday, June 18 to officiate the Group A match between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium.
Not only will all three women be seeing their first action of this year’s tournament – together they also make history as the only all-woman trio at FIFA World Cup 2026.
We’ve seen the first American-led crew referee the group stage match between Netherlands and Japan on June 14 in Dallas, Texas. With three more Americans in action Thursday, the eight U.S. referees appointed to this summer’s tournament continue to make history and demonstrate the diversity of U.S. refereeing, showing why American officials are among the most trusted and respected in the world.
As one of the referees about make her officiate her first match of this year’s FIFA World Cup, we asked Mayo some questions about her soccer journey, from officiating her first match when she was 13 years old in Garland, Texas to playing collegiately at Tennessee Tech University to now making history on the sport’s biggest stage:
What went through your mind when you learned you’d been selected for FIFA World Cup 2026?
When I realized, in 2023, we had an opportunity to realistically earn a spot at this FIFA World Cup, all of my focus became on making that dream a reality. I made myself available for as many international and MLS games as possible to grow my on field experience. I worked with my fitness coaches to push my training to another level. So when I found out we had earned a spot, I felt elated and excited to represent the U.S. Soccer and Concacaf and showcase all the hard work.
Ismail Elfath told us earlier this week he relies on routine once he’s learned he’s going to officiate match. When you get the call, what do the next 48 hours look like for you? How do you prepare?
It’s honestly a wild 48 hours. The first thing I do is try to let all my friends and family know and help coordinate their travel. Your phone also quickly begins blowing up. Then the match preparation immediately begins.
Our fitness and technical coaches adjust our training at the fields to help us be at our best physically and technically. We then meet with a FIFA tactical coach to help us prepare for the anticipated tactics of the teams we will be officiating. Once we arrive in the city of the match, we usually have a team lunch or dinner to discuss our approach to the match and make sure we are all on the same page. After that, it’s time to relax and visualize success. My favorite part is taking a deep breath during the walk out, looking around and having a moment of gratitude. Then, it’s game time!
What do your family and friends make of your career? What was their reactions to learning you were working the tournament?
Without their support, I would not be in this position. Success does not come from one person, everyone needs a team and I am grateful to have an amazing team of supporters. My mom and dad have watched every single game I have officiated that has had a live stream option for over a decade. My wife who has seen the ups and the downs of the journey and supported me in both, couldn’t be more proud and will be attending any matches we receive along with my sister who is also one of my biggest supporters.
What do you wish more soccer fans knew about you and your fellow referees?
We love and live football. I would love for them to get a real peek behind the curtains of the life of a referee. Our physical training, our preparation we do for each game and the assessment and accountability that happens after a match.
What sacrifices does it take to not only be a referee but also work a tournament of this scale and magnitude?
I can only speak for myself, but I’ve had to miss almost all of my friends and families special moments. When I was coming up, I had to personally invest in myself by funding my travel to tournaments and taking off time my teaching job to officiate at events with national mentors and coaches. We even scheduled our wedding in December which was our best chance at not having any conflicts with the soccer calendar. I also had to step away from a very supportive teaching and coaching job after ten years to really focus on my international career. When you are chasing a dream, you are not the only one who sacrifices, it is all of your loved ones too. This is why it is so important that you share and celebrate the big moments with them as well.
Referee Brooke Mayo officiating a match in Major League Soccer (Photo by Jeremy Olson/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
These matches are the biggest in the sport. How do you unwind or switch off from that intensity after leaving the pitch?
After the match is always difficult to switch off. As officials we tend to be a bit of obsessive perfectionists. I can say that when I am alone in my hotel after a match, as much as I want to say I have a secret formula, I do not. I’m probably obsessing about something I could have done better. So the best way I know how to relax is by spending time with my family, friends or colleagues after the match. It’s the only thing that can take my mind away after a match.
What does it mean to you to be part of an all-female officiating crew? And how special is it to share this journey with other women?
Most of the time, I don’t think anything about it; we are just a team of officials. But then you have an instructor come up and ask for a picture because his daughter is inspired by us, thousands of miles away. Or an older female FIFA volunteer, pulling you aside and saying how proud she is to see women at this level and how it never seemed possible when she was younger. So even though I view us as just a normal trio that has earned their place at this FIFA World Cup, I know we represent something bigger than ourselves. There is no limiting factor for you to achieve your dreams as long as you are willing to sacrifice, put in the work and take advantage when the opportunity comes.
Who were some role models that you looked up to, who made you believe this was possible?
I am forever thankful to Susan Williamson of Tennessee, the first female assessor I ever met. Just knowing one other female and having her support locally made a world of difference for me. And then of course seeing women breaking down barriers on my TV was incredibly inspiring. Kari Seitz, Bibiana Steinhaus, Edina Batista, Natalie Aspinall, Sian Massey-Ellis, all six of the women appointed to the last FIFA World Cup. I also drew a lot of inspiration as a USA official seeing Mark Geiger’s trios strong performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. And lastly, I draw inspiration from all my female colleagues that I surround myself with. Together we support and challenge each other to be better.
You’re the only all-woman trio selected for the tournament. How have you seen the perception and opportunities for female referees evolve during your career? Do you think that number will grow in future World Cups?
In my career I have witnessed and been apart of many “firsts” for women and I know it is not because we are the first women that have been capable, but rather the first time that we have been provided the opportunity. We know we have had to work a little bit harder, to earn the same opportunities as our male counter parts. And with this comes an extra pressure to perform almost perfectly so we leave the door open for the women behind us. When you look different, there is always a bigger microscope on your performance. However, I feel confident that all of the women that have been performing at high levels have helped kick the door open permanently. We all have played a part in earning the respect from our colleagues and administrators and I am confident that the best referees, women or men, will be selected for future World Cups.
Brooke Mayo (left), Tori Penso (center) and Kathryn Nesbitt (right) (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
What’s that moment going to be like when you walk out of the tunnel to officiate Czechia and South Africa and hear the national anthems?
I’m an incredibly emotional person. I love football deeply. Whenever I have a big match, I normally have to fight back my tears at some point during the walkout. How lucky am I to get to live my dreams with my family and friends cheering me on? This is never something I will take for granted.
What’s the best/favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is working the actual matches and experiencing the different cultures of the world, whether it is travelling to different countries or working with officials from different countries. Football unites the world.
What does it mean to you to work a FIFA World Cup in your home country?
It’s a dream I could not have even imagined. Obviously, all my soccer friends and family have always supported my career, but being appointed to this FIFA World Cup has opened some of my non-soccer friends eyes to how important football is to the rest of the world and the real magnitude of a FIFA World Cup.
What message do you hope young girls take when they watch these games and see you officiate a match on the sport’s biggest stage?
I hope they realize that they are strong and capable. When you witness or experience any negativity online or in person – sexism, homophobia, racism, etc. – know that negativity is coming from, as I like to say “shoulda, coulda, woulda people.” They try to bring people down because of their own lack of confidence and success. But I hope this message goes to more than just girls. I hope anyone who feels like they have never seen themselves represented at the highest level, we see you, we support you and we are ready to cheer you on as long as you’re willing to put in the work! You belong.
Finally, when future referees look back at this tournament, what do you hope they say about you and this particular group?
I hope it inspires all referees to dream big, work hard and most importantly, support each other.
