With the victory, Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the knockout stage. In Group B, Switzerland thrashed Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1, while Canada cruised to a commanding 6-0 win over Qatar.
A standout feature of the Czech Republic-South Africa match was the all-female American officiating team. Referee Tori Penso was in charge on the pitch, assisted by Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt.
This is the first time an American woman has served as the head referee in a men’s World Cup game and only the second time a woman has officiated a men’s World Cup match, following France’s Stéphanie Frappart, who made history at the 2022 tournament. FIFA has appointed another female referee, Mexico’s Katia Garcia, to take charge of matches at this year’s tournament.
The appointments are part of a FIFA effort to dismantle gender barriers in football and make competence and leadership, not gender, the defining criteria for the sport’s top officiating roles.
