Mexican football is set to make history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. Mexican referee Katia Itzel García has been appointed by FIFA to officiate the match between Tunisia and the Netherlands on Matchday 3 of Group F.
With this appointment, Katia Itzel will become the first Mexican female referee to officiate a men’s World Cup match—an unprecedented achievement for Mexican refereeing and for Mexican sports.
The match will take place on June 25 at Kansas City Stadium, where the referee from Mexico City will write a new chapter in soccer history.
A Historic Achievement for Mexico
Katia Itzel García’s career has been marked by records. Before this appointment, she had already made history by becoming the first Mexican woman to be part of a refereeing trio at a men’s World Cup, serving as the fourth official in the match between the Netherlands and Japan during the group stage.
Now, FIFA has entrusted her with the responsibility of serving as the head referee in one of the most important matches in Group F, cementing her status as one of the most promising referees on the international stage.
In addition, Katia Itzel will become only the third woman to referee a men’s World Cup match as the head referee, following in the footsteps of France’s Stéphanie Frappart and the United States’ Tori Penso.
A Career Full of Milestones
A native of Mexico City with a degree in Political Science and Public Administration, Katia Itzel has broken barriers in recent years.
Among her most notable achievements are:
- First Mexican referee to officiate an Olympic Games match.
- First woman to referee a men’s Gold Cup match.
- Winner of the 2024 National Sports Award in the referee category.
- A member of the select group of referees appointed by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup.
Her rise has been steady, and today she stands on the most important stage in world soccer.
A Match with a Lot at Stake
The match between Tunisia and the Netherlands will be key in determining the fate of Group F.
The Dutch enter the match tied with Japan for first place with four points, following a 2-2 draw against the Japanese and a 5-1 rout of Sweden. Tunisia, meanwhile, has already been eliminated after suffering two consecutive losses in the tournament.
Regardless of the result, all eyes will be on Katia Itzel García, who will represent Mexican refereeing on a day that promises to go down in World Cup history.
Because this time, in addition to the players, Mexico will also have a key figure on the field.
