Who is the referee for Czechia vs South Africa? Meet Tori Penso, the first American woman to take charge of a Men's FIFA World Cup match

× Tori Penso made history in the Czechia-South Africa game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday (June 18), becoming the first American woman to officiate a men's match in the competition. Ad Penso, 39, became the first woman in 20 years to officiate an MLS game in 2020. Six years later, she's set for a bigger stage, following France's Stéphanie Frappart (Qatar 2022) as the only woman to referee a men's World Cup game.

In 2023, the Florida-born Penso took charge oft he FIFA Women’s World Cup final, where Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney, joining Germany as the only nations to win both the men's and women's World Cups. Ad Trending On Thursday, Penso took charge of the Czechia-South Africa FIFA Men's World Cup game in Atlanta, with the Euro 1996 finalists leading 1-0 at the break. Both teams are coming off losses in their opening games.

While South Africa lost 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico on the opening day in a game that featured three red cards, including two for the Bafana Bafana, Czechia lost 2-1 to South Korea. What's in store on Day 8 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Czechia vs South Africa: Group A - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Source: Getty The eighth day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico on Thursday (June 18) marks the start of the second round of group games.

Ad In the first game of the day, Czechia, in their second Group A game, are playing South Africa in Atlanta, which will be followed by Switzerland taking on Bosnia & Herzegovina in Inglewood.Co-hosts Canada will next be in action. Having drawn 1-1 with Bosnia & Herzegovina in their opener in Toronto last week, they face Qatar in Vancouver.

The last game of the day will see the tournament's other co-hosts Mexico clash with South Korea in Zapopan. × Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Bhargav Tori Penso made history in the Czechia-South Africa game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday (June 18), becoming the first American woman to officiate a men's match in the competition.

Ad Penso, 39, became the first woman in 20 years to officiate an MLS game in 2020. Six years later, she's set for a bigger stage, following France's Stéphanie Frappart (Qatar 2022) as the only woman to referee a men's World Cup game. In 2023, the Florida-born Penso took charge oft he FIFA Women’s World Cup final, where Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney, joining Germany as the only nations to win both the men's and women's World Cups.

Ad Trending On Thursday, Penso took charge of the Czechia-South Africa FIFA Men's World Cup game in Atlanta, with the Euro 1996 finalists leading 1-0 at the break. Both teams are coming off losses in their opening games. While South Africa lost 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico on the opening day in a game that featured three red cards, including two for the Bafana Bafana, Czechia lost 2-1 to South Korea.

What's in store on Day 8 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Czechia vs South Africa: Group A - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Source: Getty The eighth day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico on Thursday (June 18) marks the start of the second round of group games. Ad In the first game of the day, Czechia, in their second Group A game, are playing South Africa in Atlanta, which will be followed by Switzerland taking on Bosnia & Herzegovina in Inglewood.

Co-hosts Canada will next be in action. Having drawn 1-1 with Bosnia & Herzegovina in their opener in Toronto last week, they face Qatar in Vancouver. The last game of the day will see the tournament's other co-hosts Mexico clash with South Korea in Zapopan.

× Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Bhargav × Was this article helpful? Quick Links Ad More from Sportskeeda Fetching more content...

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