Katia García will be the third woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.
Sports Desk, June 22 (EFE)
Mexican referee Katia García will officiate Thursday’s Group F match between Tunisia and the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City, becoming the third woman to referee a match in the tournament.
García, born in Mexico City on September 1, 1992, follows in the footsteps of France’s Stephanie Frappart, who refereed the Germany-Costa Rica group stage match at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and American Tori Penso, who officiated last Thursday’s Group A match between the Czech Republic and South Africa.
The Mexican referee, the first woman to officiate a men’s Gold Cup match and the second in the Mexican league, who also refereed at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be assisted on the sidelines by her compatriot Sandra Ramírez and Spaniard José Enrique Naranjo, with Paraguayan Juan Gabriel Benítez serving as the fourth official.
Katia García has already served as the fourth official in the Netherlands-Japan, England-Croatia, and USA-Australia matches at this World Cup.
Tori Penso has been appointed to referee the Group E match between Ecuador and Germany, also to be played on Thursday at New York/New Jersey Stadium.
Meanwhile, Salvadoran Ivan Barton, who showed a red card to Paraguayan Miguel Almirón for covering his mouth while addressing an opponent, will referee Japan-Sweden, Frenchman Clement Turpin will officiate Paraguay-Australia, and Algerian Mustapha Ghorbal will referee Turkey-USA.
