FIFA praised the first female referee in the history of the World Cup: an exemplary performance

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) praised American referee Toure Penso, who made history as the first female referee to officiate a World Cup match after officiating the match between the Czech Republic and South Africa on Thursday evening at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, which ended in a 1-1 draw in the second round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA described Benso’s performance as exemplary in a sensitive match that brought together two teams searching for the first 3 points. It was able to impose its prestige from the first minute to the last whistle, and made the right decisions at the right time.
It is noteworthy that Benso, who is classified as one of the most prominent referees in the world, appeared with high concentration throughout the 90 minutes. She did not hesitate to count mistakes, and she was not afraid of confrontation. The 1-1 draw was a fair result for both teams, and a large part of the credit goes to their calm and determined management.