Kathryn Nesbitt

Kathryn Nesbitt
Nesbitt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Born (1988-11-07) November 7, 1988
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Other occupation Analytical Chemist
Domestic
Years League Role
2013–present NWSL Assistant Referee
2015–present MLS Assistant Referee
International
Years League Role
2016–present FIFA Assistant Referee
2022–present FIFA Video Assistant Referee

Kathryn Nesbitt (born November 7, 1988) is an American soccer assistant referee who has been on the FIFA International Referees List since 2016 and, since 2022, as a video assistant referee. She has worked three FIFA World Cups, and became the first woman to officiate a men's World Cup knockout round in 2022.

Career

Nesbitt was born in Rochester, New York, in November 1988, later moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is an analytical chemist, graduating from St. John Fisher University and subsequently from the University of Pittsburgh.[1] Nesbitt also taught at Towson University before resigning to pursue a professional career in refereeing in 2019 in the weeks leading up to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[1][2]

Nesbitt took part in her first professional match in April 2013 in an NWSL game. As an assistant referee, she has officiated several friendlies and other matches at international tournaments, including at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship. In American soccer, Nesbitt also oversaw the MLS is Back Tournament final, the 2020 MLS Cup, and was named MLS's Best Assistant Referee that same year.[3][4]

In November–December 2022, Nesbitt served as an assistant referee at that year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar, making history by becoming the first female referee to officiate in a men's knockout stage game of the tournament.[1][5][6] She was also appointed as a reserve assistant referee at the final match between Argentina and France.[5][6]

In January 2023, Nesbitt was selected for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.[5] On August 20, 2023, Nesbitt, along with pitch referee Tori Penso and fellow assistant referee Brooke Mayo, became the first American refereeing team to officiate a World Cup final; the match was played between Spain and England.[7][8][9]

Nesbitt was appointed in April 2026 to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as an assistant referee of the American representatives, which as in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, was led by Penso and with assistant referee Mayo.[10][11] This made them the first all-female and all-American crew of officials at any men's FIFA World Cup.[12]

FIFA World Cup Finals
Tournament Matchup Venue Role
2022 FIFA World Cup final  Argentina vs  France Lusail Stadium Reserve assistant referee
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final  Spain vs  England Stadium Australia Assistant referee

Personal life

Nesbitt was a figure skater during her school years and played volleyball while in college.[13] Upon her appointment to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, former English referee Howard Webb, who officiated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, praised Nesbitt for her physical status and temperament skills when on the pitch and while processing information quickly.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "In Qatar, one of the World Cup's first female refs will live an 'impossible dream'". Washington Post. November 14, 2022. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  2. ↑ mlssoccer. "MLS Assistant Referee of the Year Kathryn Nesbitt to become first woman to officiate a Concacaf Men's World Cup Qualifier | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  3. ↑ Gorostieta, Diego (May 19, 2022). "Kathryn Nesbitt, la estadounidense que hará historia con el arbitraje femenil en Qatar 2022". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  4. ↑ "How an analytical chemist became one of the world's top officials". inside.fifa.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "U.S. Soccer Referees Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo, Kathryn Nesbitt And Armando Villarreal Selected To Officiate 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Final | U.S. Soccer Official Website". ussoccer.com. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Ralston, William (June 8, 2026). "'It can all end with one bad game': the highs and lows of a World Cup referee". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  7. ↑ "American referee Tori Penso picked by FIFA for Spain-England World Cup final". www.foxsports.com. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  8. ↑ Timm-Garcia, Jaide (August 16, 2023). "'Being a mother has made me frankly a better referee,' says US ref officiating at Women's World Cup". CNN. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ Press, Associated (August 18, 2023). "En una inusual decisión, FIFA elige a Penso para arbitrar la final de la Copa Mundial". Los Angeles Times en Español (in Spanish). Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  10. ↑ AOL (June 10, 2026). "2026 World Cup referees: Full list of officials – AOL". AOL.com. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  11. ↑ Millar, Colin (June 8, 2026). "Where do the World Cup referees come from and how are they chosen?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 11, 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. 1 2 Press, Ronald Blum, Associated (March 26, 2021). "Barrier falls: Woman officiates men's qualifier in Americas". WJXT. Retrieved June 11, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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