Meet Torey Penso: the record-setting referee who once gave up a career in advertising

“There were no full-time female referees in the States, and so I didn’t really look at it as a career. I realized that this wasn’t just a temporary job for me, and maybe it would enable me to get to know my country and maybe the world better. I knew that I couldn’t continue both activities, starting my professional opportunities and giving myself the best opportunities. For me, and so I decided, with the support of my family, to see how far it could take me and he never imagined me. More is given than done,” Penso told FIFA in a 2023 interview.

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Born in Stuart, Florida, Penso initially took up football by watching her brothers play, but soon turned to refereeing in local leagues in 1999 after seeing her brothers doing the same in their local town. It was the same year that the USA Women’s Soccer Team, led by Carla Overbeck, won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Penso shared how Brandi Chastain’s winning penalty kick against China in the final inspired her.

“To put it simply, my mother didn’t want me to have bumps and bruises on my feet, but I saw my two brothers kicking the ball around and that’s all I was doing. When I was 14, I told my mother I wanted to make some money for myself and she replied, ‘You can spend a lot of time on the pitch.’ And so I started refereeing matches for money – both boys’ and girls’ sports. One of my favorite memories is Brandi Chastain celebrating after scoring on a penalty kick to seal the win. It was the first time I saw a woman as an athlete. It was inspiring and it changed my whole perspective,” Penso said in an interview with FIFA.

Referee Tori Penso (C), assistant referee Catherine Nesbitt (L) and Brooke Mayo practice before the World Cup Group A soccer match between the Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta. (AP)

In an interview with Fox Before sports, Penso talked about how she bought her first car with the money she earned from refereeing a local league and how she told parents about the need for children to learn the laws of football.

“Eventually the money bought me my first car, so it gave me a sense of freedom, not to mention all the intangible skills you develop as an official – making quick decisions with limited information, the courage to go out on the field, often in front of screaming parents – that gave me a lot of skills that Penn took care of in Penn’s sports.”

Several years later, Penso received an invitation to a referee camp run by the IOC’s Olympic Development Program in Texas. In the following years she married Chris Penso, an MLS referee and now a FIFA video assistant referee, with whom Penso has three daughters.

In 2020, Penso made history by becoming the first woman in 20 years – since Sandy Hunt accomplished the feat in 2000 – to officiate a Major League Soccer match, between Nashville FC and Nashville FC. DC Joint.

In 2021, the American joined FIFA’s list of international referees and soon led an all-female officiating team in a Concacaf World Cup qualifier, then became the first female referee to officiate at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England in Sydney.

#VsSportsSomos26 | ¡Segundo Arbitrage Femenino en Mundials! 👩⚖️⚽

Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt have become the first female arbitral team designated to officiate a men’s match in the FIFA World Cup 2026, including one in VAR.

historical… pic.twitter.com/oHYMJygsra

— Vs Sports (@SomosVsSports) 18 June 2026

Penso’s name was announced by FIFA referees committee president Pierluigi Collina days before the final. She spoke about her feelings of playing the historic final.

“It was a really special moment for me, when Colina held up the jersey with the team’s name on it in front of the whole group. I think we were all salivating at the opportunity and the opportunity, and when he turned it over to show my name, I just melted. There’s nothing better than what I’m living right now,” Penso told Fox Sports.

Since the Women’s World Cup final, Penso has also worked at the Paris Olympics as well as last year’s FIFA Club World Cup. This year, the American referee has officiated nine matches in Major League Soccer, bringing her total to 66 MLS appearances. According to football site PlayerStats, Penso has handed out 443 yellow cards and six red cards in 129 matches so far in her international career.

In her interview with FIFA, Penso shared how her youngest daughter had filled out a poster saying she wanted to be a referee.

“During the last SheBelieves Cup, the three of them filled a poster where they had to complete the line ‘I believe that…’: my eight-year-old wrote that she will become a professional footballer, six-year-old she will play football and she will never give up and five-year-old she will become a referee. Of course, they will have our full support! Penso told FIFA.

At Penso’s house, the couple also discuss refereeing. Penso added, “I’ve had good discussions with Chris, who is a FIFA Video Assistant Referee, about refereeing at home and that helps me see things from a different perspective when I take charge of games.

The 39-year-old has also kept a photo of her family for each of her matches and this is what she would have carried ahead of Thursday’s match. “A photo of my family, which is with me wherever I go. If it wasn’t for them, I would never have been able to do this,” Penso told FIFA.