Female Referees Who Broke The Stereotypes At Copa America

Explore exciting details about the top 4 female referees who ruled the long male-dominated arena of Copa America and created history

The 48th edition of the Copa América clinched by Argentina and hosted by the United States witnessed women referees breaking through the barriers and creating history. Copa América 2024 became the first edition in the history of the oldest national team tournament to be officiated by female referees.

The 2024 Copa América included a total of 101 match officials, eight out of which were female. The revolutionary decision of South America’s football ruling body CONMEBOL  to include women as official referees in the 48th edition served as a leading example to encourage women’s participation in such male-dominated sports.

In this article we will take a look at the top four female referees who undoubtedly created history at the Copa América.

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Top 4 Female Referees Who Broke The Stereotypes At Copa America

  • Edina Alves Batista

Top 4 Female Referees Who Broke The Stereotypes At Copa America

Brazilian association female football referee, Edina Alves Batista, has officiated numerous high-stakes soccer tournaments, including the 2018 Copa América Femenina, 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia. Edina Alves Batista was one of the eight women referees to officiate the recently concluded 2024 Copa América tournament.

The Brazilian female football referee undoubtedly made history by solidifying her place as one of the top five female referees to officiate at the 48th edition. Additionally, Edina Alves Batista was also been picked up by the FIFA as a crucial member of the officiating pool at the Paris Olympics 2024, speaking volumes about her inspiring officiating journey.

  • Mary Victoria Penso

Mary Victoria Penso, popularly referred to as “Mary Victoria” and “Tori Penso”, is the second on our list of top four female referees who made history at the Copa América. Mary Victoria officiated the match between Bolivia and Panama on July 2, 2024, and solidified herself as the first woman referee to officiate a high-action match in the history of Copa América.

Earlier, Mary Victoria Penso also smashed the record for being the first American woman referee to officiate a FIFA World Cup match at the 2023 FIFA World Cup Final. Additionally, Mary Victoria also officiated the opening match of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the American referee Mary Victoria also officiated for FIFA at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

  • Tatiana Guzman

Nicaraguan Association football referee and former football player, Tatiana Auxiliadora Guzmán Alguera, popularly referred to as “Tatiana Guzman”, was also a part of the officiating pool at the 2024 Copa América, revolutionising the history of the oldest continental football tournament.

Tatiana Guzman was picked by South America’s football ruling body CONMEBOL to officiate the 48th edition as a video assistant referee, which happened for the first time in the history of the tournament, garnering immense praise and acknowledgment from the football aficionados and global sports fraternity at large.

Tatiana Guzman did an incredible job as a video assistant referee (VAR) and established herself as one of the top four female referees to make history at the Copa América.

  • Migdalía Rodriguez

Migdalía Rodriguez served as a leading example for women referees at the 2024 Copa América to thrive and achieve exemplary milestones. Migdalía Rodriguez officiated the 48th edition of Copa América as an assistant referee and successfully solidified her place as one of the top four female referees to make history at the Copa América.

Apart from her formidable feat at the 2024 Copa América, Migdalía Rodriguez has also achieved numerous other phenomenal milestones as a female referee. Migdalía Rodriguez was the first woman referee to officiate a Caribbean series game that took place in Jalisco, Mexico on February 3, 2018. Additionally, Migdalía Rodriguez also became the first female referee ever to officiate a World Baseball Classic Game in 2023.

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