39-year-old Tori Penso makes history as she officiates the World Cup match between Bafana Bafana and Czechia, taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday 18 June.
TORI PENSO MAKES HISTORY AT BAFANA BAFANA VS CZECHIA MATCH
American referee Tori Penso, who has been appointed to officiate the match between Bafana Bafana and Czechia, makes history as the first American woman to referee a men’s senior Fifa World Cup match. The match takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday 18 June.
WHO IS TORI PENSO? FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
Her full name with her maiden surname: Mary Victoria Hancock. She is married to Chris Penso, a longtime referee in Major League Soccer (MLS). Tori and Chris have three daughters together – Piper, Jovie, and Brinley. She shared a touching post with her daughters ahead of the World Cup. Take a look…
“My send off squad is 🔥. No better cheering squad than what this Mama is lucky to have by her side. It’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later! Sharing me with the world isn’t always easy, but this is our moment. Here’s to these girls – MY WHY. It’s time to show them and the world what is possible when you dream BIG dreams. When you reach higher, you challenge yourself to become your best version. Don’t accept others’ limited imitation as your own and you keep dreaming of a better world. When you rise, you challenge others to rise with you. A rising tide, lifts all boats. 🚤,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Leaning into this moment & what it all means, for us, for them, for me, for future generations. Every bit earned. It’s time to rise up, for them, for their futures. The time is NOW. The game is OURS. ⚽️,” she continued.
Penso is only the second woman in history to referee a men’s World Cup match. She follows the footsteps of French official Stéphanie Frappart. The 39-year-old began her refereeing career at age 14 to earn extra pocket money. She started officiating youth and local matches at the suggestion of her mother, since her older brothers were already referees. She began taking it seriously and realized it could become a full-time career when she was 18 and attended an Olympic Development Program refereeing camp in Alabama.