American assistant referee Brooke Mayo has made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first openly gay match official to participate in the tournament and marking a significant moment for LGBTQ+ representation in global soccer.
Mayo’s appointment has emerged as one of the tournament’s most notable off-field stories, highlighting broader conversations around visibility, inclusion and diversity in the world’s most-watched sporting event. While her presence reflects years of professional achievement, it also carries wider social significance at a time when representation in elite sports continues to gain prominence.
The longtime soccer official and 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Referee of the Year is headed to soccer’s biggest stage. https://t.co/7PHxGfvBOq
— Out Magazine (@outmagazine) June 17, 2026
The historic milestone came during the Czech Republic–South Africa match at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Mayo served as an assistant referee. Her participation represents a first for the World Cup and underscores the evolving landscape of international soccer.
Mayo’s journey to the sport’s biggest stage began at a young age. She started playing soccer as a child and entered refereeing at just 13 years old. Through years of steady progression and international experience, she established herself among the leading officials in the game.
Her standing in the profession was further recognized in 2026 when U.S. Soccer named her Female Referee of the Year, cementing her reputation as one of the country’s top officials.
Mayo publicly came out in 2024, describing the decision as both personal and meaningful. She has spoken openly about growing up in the American South and the importance of authenticity in a demanding profession. According to Mayo, the soccer field has always been a place of freedom and acceptance, where identity is not an obstacle but part of who she is.
She has also emphasized the strong sense of community within refereeing, crediting the support of colleagues and mentors throughout her career.
Mayo’s World Cup appearance reflects a broader effort by FIFA to increase the presence of women officials at major international tournaments. Since the 2022 World Cup, women have taken on increasingly prominent roles in high-profile matches, helping reshape long-standing perceptions about officiating at the highest level.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group A – Czech Republic v South Africa – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. – June 18, 2026 Referee Tori Penso and assistant referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt before the match REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Alongside fellow Americans Tori Penso and Kathryn Nesbitt, Mayo is part of a trailblazing group of U.S. officials that has already broken barriers in international competition.
Beyond the matches themselves, Mayo’s presence at the World Cup carries symbolic weight. With billions of viewers watching around the globe, every appearance on soccer’s biggest stage serves as a powerful form of representation.
For many, Mayo’s achievement is about more than a personal career milestone. It reflects a sport continuing to evolve—one in which diversity and inclusion are becoming an increasingly visible part of the game itself.
