• Loading stock data...
Monday, July 7, 2025

Female Officials to Ref Men’s World Cup for 1st Time in 2022

  • Stéphanie Frappart, Salima Mukansanga, and Yoshimi Yamashita will become the first female referees for Qatar 2022.
  • Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of refereeing, is emphasizing “quality” over “gender” in the governing body’s choices.
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

In a breakthrough for gender equality, FIFA confirmed Thursday that female referees will officiate a men’s World Cup for the first time at this year’s edition in November.

World soccer’s governing body will assign three female refs — Stéphanie Frappart of France, Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda, and Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan — to officiate games in the upcoming tournament in Qatar.

“We clearly emphasize that it is quality that counts for us and not gender,” said Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of refereeing.

It’s long overdue, and all three refs have earned their stripes.

  • Frappart became the first female official of a French Ligue 1 match in 2019 and oversaw the men’s UEFA Super Cup Final between Liverpool and Chelsea.
  • Mukansanga officiated the Africa Women Cup of Nations, the CAF Women’s Champions League, and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
  • Yamashita became the first female referee of a J1 League game in May 2021 and has taken a lead role in matches for the Women’s Asian Cup.

In addition, there will be three female assistant refs in Qatar, contributing to what Collina sees as a clear first step toward parity.

“I would hope that in the future, the selection of elite women’s match officials for important men’s competitions will be perceived as something normal and no longer as sensational,” Collina added.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Manchester City

Manchester City Pockets $50 Million for Early Club World Cup Elimination

Saudi side Al-Hilal will bank at least $35 million in its quarterfinal run.
Leo Messi

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
December 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium.

California Finds Money for World Cup, but 49ers Remain Tens of Millions..

The NFL team promised to cover costs of games at their stadium.
Jun 23, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Al Ahly's Mohamed Hany reacts after the match during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.

Heat Wave Across the U.S. Impacting Major Sports

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said it’s been almost impossible to train.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Jun 13, 2018; Moscow, Russia; A general view of a beer stand inside of Luschniki Stadium one day prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Saudi Arabia Says No Alcohol at 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia won’t allow alcohol anywhere during the 2034 World Cup.
August 30, 2024

Premier League Transfer Spending Has Already Topped $2 Billion As Deadline Looms

Saudi Pro League teams haven’t yet matched their English counterparts.
January 13, 2025

Gavin Newsom Reveals Status of 2028 Olympics As Los Angeles Wildfires Roar

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Wildly Successful Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.
August 11, 2024

Passing of the Torch: Los Angeles Set for Olympic Firsts in 2028

The city last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984.
August 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

The Saudis are proposing a new stadium in a futuristic city called Neom.
John John Florence (USA) surfs in men’s round two competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach.
July 29, 2024

Olympic Surfers Won’t Get Their Full Paris Moment

‘We’re kind of separate off on our own little thing over here.’