Historic Milestone: Female Referees Debut in Copa America

Next month's Copa America will feature female referees for the first time. Eight women will join 101 match officials, marking a significant stride toward gender equality in football. Notable officials include Edina Alves, Maria Victoria Penso, and VAR official Tatiana Guzman. CONMEBOL aims to promote women's professionalisation in the sport.

Next month's Copa America will be the first edition of the continental men's football tournament to have female referees, South America's soccer governing body (CONMEBOL) said on Friday. Copa America, which runs from June 20 to July 14 hosted by the United States, will have a total of 101 match officials, including eight women.

Edina Alves of Brazil and Maria Victoria Penso of the United States will be referees in the tournament. They will be supported by Tatiana Guzman of Nicaragua, a VAR official. Brazilian Neuza Back, Mary Blanco of Colombia, Migdalia Rodriguez of Venezuela, and Americans Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt will join as assistants.

"This is a significant commitment undertaken by CONMEBOL since 2016," CONMEBOL said in a statement. "Aiming at the development and professionalisation of more women on and off the field, promoting gender equality in various tournaments."

In 2021, Alves became the first woman to referee a senior men's FIFA tournament at the Club World Cup. Back and Nesbitt officiated matches in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Penso, Mayo, and Nesbitt have also been selected as match officials at the 2024 Olympic football tournament in France.

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