The Women Refereeing at the Women’s World Cup
This Women’s World Cup has quickly become another historic tournament with the many impressive and unpredictable moments that have occurred so far. While many are focused on several shocking early team exits, another important group deserves recognition: the referees!
The Stats
This tournament boasts 88 total match officials, 33 referees, and 55 assistant referees, an increase for this year’s tournament due to the higher number of teams competing. The last Women’s World Cup only had 27 referees and 48 assistant referees.
In addition, a team of 19 Video Match Officials (VMOs) will operate the VAR, six of which are female. This is the first time that there have ever been that many female VMOs, adding another historic feat to this tournament.
Like before, this year’s match officials are all from various countries, including those not in the competition, such as Togo and Kyrgyzstan. Even more incredible is that most of the officials are women!
While it was great to see six total female officials referee the 2022 Men’s World Cup, it is even more amazing to see female representation in all parts of the sport in this Women’s World Cup.
The Officials This WC
If you’ve watched every game in this year’s tournament, you may have noticed a different referee at each of the various matches. Until now, each official has called two games, with some having called three.
However, some big names and familiar faces have returned this year, like Stéphanie Frappart from France, who refereed the final match between the U.S. and the Netherlands in the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz from Mexico also officiate this tournament. The trio made history in the 2022 Men’s World Cup as the first all-female referee crew.
Kathryn Nesbitt from the U.S., who officiated a round-of-16 game in the last Men’s World Cup, is also back as an assistant referee. Yoshimi Yamashita and Salima Mukansanga are also officiating, completing the full group of six female referees from the Men’s World Cup.
The complete list of main referees:
- Edina Alves – BRA
- Lina Lehtovaara – FIN
- Vincentia Amedome – TOG
- Casey Reibelt – AUS
- Bouchra Karboubi – MAR
- Tess Olofsson – SWE
- Emikar Caldera Barrera – VEN
- Marie-Soleil Beaudoin – CAN
- Ekaterina Katja Koroleva – USA
- Kateryna Monzul – UKR
- Maria Carvajal – CHI
- Melissa Borjas – HON
- Tori Penso – USA
- Cheryl Foster – WAL
- Rebecca Welch – ENG
- Katia Itzel García – MEX
- Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi – ITA
- Oh-Hyeon Jeong – KOR
- Laura Fortunato – ARG
- Esther Staubli – SUI
- Anna-Marie KEIGHLEY – NZL
- Marta Huerta de Aza – ESP
- Kate Jacewicz – AUS
- Kateryna Monzul – UKR
- Ivana Martincic – CRO
- Anahi Fernandez – URU
- Iuliana Demetrescu – ROU
- Marianela Araya – CRC
This group of women has worked hard and prepared for their opportunity to officiate at the biggest tournament in the world, and we are here for it! Hopefully, we will continue to see this upward trend of more female referees at all future World Cups!
Featured image via Getty Images
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