Tori Penso
American soccer referee (born 1986)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mary Victoria Penso (née Hancock; born 1986) is an American soccer referee. She began her professional refereeing career in the National Women's Soccer League and later moved to Major League Soccer, where in 2020 she became the first woman to referee a regular season match in 20 years. Penso was the referee for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, the first World Cup final to feature an American referee.
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July 8, 1986
Stuart, Florida, U.S.
|
Penso in 2025 | |||
| Full name | Mary Victoria Penso[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
Mary Victoria Hancock[2] July 8, 1986 Stuart, Florida, U.S. | ||
| Other occupation | Digital marketer | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2015– | National Women's Soccer League | Referee | |
| 2019– | USL Championship | Referee | |
| 2020– | Major League Soccer | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2021– | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Career
Penso was raised in Stuart, Florida, and began refereeing at the age of 14 alongside her older brothers.[3][4] She was invited to an Olympic Development Program refereeing camp in Alabama at the age of 18.[5]
Domestic
Penso joined the United States Soccer Federation as a referee in 2013 and was assigned to women's collegiate tournaments and later the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[6][7] Following the 2019 Generation Adidas Cup, she was invited to join the Professional Referee Organization's PRO2 development program. Penso later served as a fourth official at several Major League Soccer (MLS) and referee in USL Championship matches, in addition to assignments in the NWSL.[5][6]
In January 2020, Penso was appointed as the managing director of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association.[8]
On September 25, 2020, she became the fourth woman to referee a MLS match and the first since Sandy Hunt in May 2000.[6] Penso is the first full-time female referee in the league's history.[3]
Penso was assigned as the referee for the 2025 US Open Cup Final between Austin FC and Nashville SC. [9]
International
On January 9, 2023, FIFA appointed her to the officiating pool for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.[10] Penso, along with fellow Americans Kathryn Nesbitt and Brooke Mayo, was appointed to officiate the final—the first referee from the U.S. to have the whistle for a FIFA World Cup final and the first Women's World Cup final referee from the Americas—as well as a semi-final and three earlier matches.[11][12]
Penso officiated the opening match of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. She was also assigned the third place match.[13] Penso worked the Club World Cup again in 2025, where she officiated two group stage matches. [14]
On April 3, 2024, FIFA announced that Penso was appointed to the officiating pool for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[15] Penso was assigned the opening round Group A match between France and Colombia.[16]
Tori Penso was selected as a referee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, making her the first female American to be a referee at a men's World Cup.[17]
Personal life
Penso is married to Chris Penso, a long-time MLS referee. They have three daughters.[3][6]
Penso graduated from Florida State University in 2008 with a digital marketing degree. She worked in marketing for Coca-Cola and Red Bull until relocating to Ohio to earn a Master of Business Administration in 2015 from the Case Western Reserve University.[6][7] In addition to refereeing, Penso teaches a University of South Florida course in social media and sports.[18]
