Historic first for LGBTQ+ representation at Men’s World Cup

Assistant referee Brooke Mayo is set to enter the record books this Thursday as the first openly gay match official to take part in a men’s FIFA World Cup game. She will run the line in the Group A fixture between the Czech Republic and South Africa at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, working alongside fellow assistant referee Kathryn Nesbitt, with Tori Penso appointed as referee.

Mayo, 37, confirmed to Outsports that she is gay, following an earlier 2022 NISOA blog post in which she described herself as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. An Instagram post celebrating her selection for the tournament hailed her as the first openly out and proud referee to officiate at this level of the men’s World Cup.

In a 2024 Pride Month blog for the National Intercollegiate Soccer Official Association, Mayo reflected on the personal cost of visibility. “Growing up in the South was not easy, and I have always struggled with the delicate balance of authenticity versus safety,” she wrote. She explained that her move across state lines stemmed from “genuine concerns” for her family’s safety, even though she often tells people she relocated “for the mountains.”

For Mayo, football has provided a vital source of community and affirmation. “There is one place where I feel the most supported being my authentic self, the soccer field,” she wrote, calling on colleagues to safeguard that environment: “I would like to challenge our referee family to continue making the soccer field a safe place for all.”

Mayo’s appointment marks the first time an openly LGBTQ+ match official has held an on-field role at a men’s World Cup, co-hosted this year by the USA, Canada and Mexico. Penso’s selection is also historic, as she becomes the first woman from the United States to referee a men’s World Cup match.

The men’s FIFA World Cup remains the most-watched event in world football, and moves toward greater LGBTQ+ representation carry influence far beyond the pitch, especially in a part of the game where visibility has lagged. Mayo’s presence on the touchline sends a clear message about inclusion in elite men’s football and offers a visible role model to LGBTQ+ players, officials and fans across the globe.

For those who want to support and be part of a professional world where LGBTQ+ people are visible, valued and connected, communities such as myGwork provide a dedicated platform for inclusive networking, careers and allyship—signing up is one concrete way to help build on milestones like this.