Brooke Mayo

Brooke Mayo
Mayo World Cup 2026
Born 1988 or 1989 (age 37–38)
Garland, Texas, U.S.
Domestic
Years League Role
2016–present NWSL Assistant referee
2020–present MLS Assistant referee
International
Years League Role
2018–present FIFA Assistant referee
2023-present FIFA VAR

Brooke Ashley Mayo (born 1988 or 1989[1]) is an American soccer assistant referee who has been listed on the FIFA International Referees List since 2018. She worked the 2023 Women's World Cup final, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Career

Mayo was born in Garland, Texas, and began playing soccer at the age of four.[1][2][3] She played recreationally until the age of 13, when she joined competitive leagues.[1] At the same age, Mayo took up refereeing, alternating between being a player and a referee.[1] After graduating from high school, Mayo moved to Tennessee, where she was granted an athletic scholarship at Tennessee Tech University.[1][4] There she joined the Golden Eagles team in 2007 while continuing to referee and assisting in coaching.[1]

She stated in an interview with the magazine Out that she moved away from the South to be "authentic" to herself.[1] Before leaving Tennessee, she helped open a high school when she was 23 years old.[1] Mayo subsequently pursued a career as an assistant referee, taking part in NWSL for two years before earning her FIFA badge in 2018. In 2020, she also began overseeing games at Major League Soccer.[5]

Among her international achievements, Mayo was appointed to the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, several editions of the SheBelieves Cup and the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica.[6][7][8] One year later, she was selected for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she was part of the officiating trio in the final between Spain and England.[5][9] Along with Mayo was assistant referee Kathryn Nesbitt, both serving under pitch referee Tori Penso.[5] The trio also served at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[9] She was also awarded the U.S. Soccer Referee of the Year in 2025.[10]

Mayo was appointed in April 2026 to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, working together with Penso and Nesbitt again.[4][11] The trio was assigned to the Group A match between the Czech Republic and South Africa as a first game.[11] This made them the first all-female and all-American crew of officials at any men's FIFA World Cup.[12]

Personal life

Mayo lives in Johnstown, Colorado, and works as a substitute teacher at a high school and assisting in sports coaching.[1][11] She is openly lesbian and was recognized as the first openly gay match official to referee a match at a men's world cup. [13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Holmes, Jon. "Out gay match official poised to make World Cup soccer history". OutSports. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  2. ↑ "All-Woman Referee Trio Takes Center Stage at FIFA World Cup 2026". ussoccer.com. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ Rowe, Joseph (June 14, 2026). "These World Cup referees have ties to Texas". FOX 7 Austin. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Golden Eagle grad Brooke Mayo selected to officiate at 2026 FIFA World Cup". TTU Sports. June 2, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Powell, Jon. "Some positivity for Pride Month: Brooke Mayo's FIFA World Cup appointment marks LGBTQ+ representation milestone for men's soccer". REVOLT. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  6. ↑ Redacción. "Primer equipo arbitral exclusivamente femenino para USL Championship". Noticias y análisis de árbitros de fútbol | Reglas, jugadas polémicas y opinión arbitral. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  7. ↑ "National Officials Appreciation Week Spotlight: Brooke Mayo". chsaanow.com. October 4, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ Joyce, Cecil. "Stewarts Creek coach Brooke Mayo will be part of soccer history at CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match". The Daily News Journal. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Kiley, Rachel (June 17, 2026). "Brooke Mayo To Become First Out Gay Referee At The World Cup - GO Magazine". Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Referee Awards". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 Rodriguez, Mathew (June 17, 2026). "Brooke Mayo Is Making Men's World Cup History as First Out Gay Match Official". Them. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Bailey (June 18, 2026). "These American women are making history as referees at the men's World Cup". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  13. ↑ Rodriguez, Mathew (June 17, 2026). "Brooke Mayo Is Making Men's World Cup History as First Out Gay Match Official". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
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