Meet the World Cup referee paving the way for women
Tori Penso Makes History as Women’s World Cup Referee Breaks New Ground
A Mother’s Legacy on the Pitch
Goldlaner.com – Stepping onto the field with her three daughters by her side, Tori Penso carried more than just the weight of expectation—she bore the names of her children etched into her cleats, a constant reminder that this moment transcended the simple act of blowing a whistle. Just weeks shy of turning forty, Penso etched her name into the record books as the inaugural American woman and only the second female official in history to referee a men’s World Cup fixture. Her journey to this pinnacle came alongside another remarkable achievement: leading what would become the first all-American, all-female officiating team in the tournament’s storied past to manage two group-stage encounters during June.
These accomplishments represent just the latest chapter in a career defined by pioneering milestones. Penso previously made history by taking charge of a senior Women’s World Cup final in 2023, becoming the first American referee to accomplish this feat. Additionally, she holds the distinction of being Major League Soccer’s inaugural full-time female referee. Despite these numerous firsts, women remain a small fraction of officiating talent—only six out of 170 officials selected this summer, representing merely 3.5 percent, were female. For the Florida-born official, her groundbreaking achievement extended far beyond making split-second decisions while navigating online misogyny.
Commanding Respect Through Authority
“This moment is for them so that they have a bigger stage when they get there,” she recently told CNN Sports in New York. “Women belong in sport, in boardrooms, and places where maybe they haven’t historically had a seat. And when we show up and we do it right and we perform well, it moves the needle.”
During the two matches she officiated—South Africa against the Czech Republic, and Ecuador versus Germany—Penso found herself in one of soccer’s most demanding positions: the referee at the heart of every pivotal decision. Her “rather harsh” handball call to award Bafana Bafana a penalty proved crucial, delivering the South African squad a desperately needed equalizer. Conversely, her decision not to penalize a German midfielder for a high boot just before their goal sparked fury among Ecuadorian fans. As emotions ran high, players became increasingly testy, yet Penso never wavered in asserting her authority, issuing seven bookings across both fixtures, including Ecuadorian international and Arsenal sensation Piero Hincapié.
“Authority and respect (are) critical for us as match officials,” she said. “A lot of times we hope we’re not seen and the game just flows naturally. That’s the best games, but the game will demand that we show up in certain moments.”
Understanding the Human Element
Elite refereeing requires more than tactical knowledge—it demands emotional intelligence. “I recognize that they were frustrated,” Penso explained, noting that she frequently attempted to defuse tensions through conversation and by articulating her reasoning to players. These interactions have captured public attention. An Instagram reel showing her calmly addressing a Czech player and gesturing for him to return as he tried to walk away accumulated over 26 million views and 2 million likes. The video’s caption captured the sentiment perfectly: “there’s nothing buzzier than watching a woman ref tell off these man babies.”
Breaking down the viral incident, Penso revealed that two players made contact during a corner kick near the game’s conclusion. Observing no foul, she waved play on—a choice that displeased one player. Communication proved effective. “Online people were saying it was a mom moment, but for me it was a moment of respect,” she said. “You cannot walk away from a match official and think that that’s going to be tolerated.” She stressed the importance of “drawing a line in the sand” before situations escalate, noting that the confidence to engage with players and address poor behavior develops over decades of experience.
Beyond the Whistle
Referees invest tremendous effort off the pitch as well. Throughout the match cycle, officials convened daily to review footage and deliberate on decisions. “The objective is consistency, and that’s what we hope to achieve,” she emphasized. For Penso, who began refereeing at fourteen, this represented a dream realized. “Walking out into the tunnel, the energy, the buzz, the stadium, the players, the pressure, you can feel it in the air,” she described of her exhilaration leading teams out for the first time before more than 67,000 spectators at Atlanta’s packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We need to celebrate the moment because it matters,” she said. “I’m really proud of what we’ve done.”
Yet Penso insists this victory belongs to everyone. She credited the 135,000 soccer officials across the United States, particularly the women who comprise 22 percent of the nation’s refereeing ranks—compared to just 9 percent globally. The fact that half of the six female officials selected were American, she added, demonstrates the expanding opportunities for women to thrive in this profession.
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