Meet The Six Women Referees Selected To Officiate The FIFA World Cup At Qatar

Women referees have been selected to officiate at the FIFA men's World Cup along with their male colleagues for the first time in history. Stephanie Frappar, Salima Mukansanga, and Yoshimi Yamashita were included in the list of 36 referees chosen by FIFA, while three other women will participate as assistant referees.

Neuza Back of Brazil, Mexico's Karen Diaz Medina and American Kathryn Nesbitt will serve as assistant referees at the World Cup

Meet the Women Referees of FIFA World Cup Qatar

According to a report, all six women referees must pass the same fitness tests as men referees whilst being held to the same performance standards as their male colleagues.

The trio's participation in the World Cup in Qatar sets a tone and furthers the conversation on gender equality in sports. The selection did not come out of anywhere, for each has a success story on the green field.

This is Japanese referee Yamashita Yomishi's second consecutive World Cup after officiating the 2019 Women's World Cup in France. She also took charge at the 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021, in a game between the United States and Sweden.

The 36-year-old is relishing the opportunity to be part of history as she said, "There are hardly any female referees in the Middle East, so I would like to see that change, with the Qatar World Cup as the catalyst."

Rwandan referee Mukansanga is no stranger to the world stage, having also taken charge at the men's Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

French official Stephanie Frappart is arguably one of the most recognised names listed for the 2022 World Cup and has many firsts under her name. Frappart set a record as the first woman to take charge of a men's Champions League match in 2020.

The presence of women officials at the men's World Cup will send a "strong" message, according to Frappart.

"It's a strong sign from FIFA and the authorities to have women referees in that country," she said, adding her hopes that this decision can "make things happen".

The World Cup, which began on Sunday, November 20, and will continue until December 18, is historic in many ways. This is the first time a major sporting event of this scale is being held in the Middle East.

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