Katia Itzel García made history over the weekend as the first woman to referee a USMNT match, commanding the centre circle as the USA beat Panama. 

The 32-year-old has been refereeing since 2016, and has already officiated international and club matches, from the Women’s World Cup and Olympics to Liga MX Femenil.

In March, she became only the second woman to referee a Liga MX 20 years after Virginia Tovar blazed the trail in Mexican football.

Women referees have been making waves across the world in the past few years. Rebecca Welch became the first woman to referee in the Premier League last year, after years of breaking through multiple glass ceilings in English football. In the MLS, Tori Penso became the league’s first full-time woman referee, as well as the first to officiate a match in 20 years back in 2020. 

Though there are more examples of women paving the way in men’s football, the centre circle and sidelines are still overwhelmingly white and male. Consistently appointing women to officiate matches, rather than a one-off match here and there, is the way forward. 

Women have a place in every facet of football, and García just set another example for future women officials. Here’s to more women calling the shots in the future.

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