The match between Costa Rica and Germany, for Group E, will see the first all-female referee trio in the history of the competition. Responsible for the exploit will be the French Stéphanie Frappart, the Mexican Karen Diaz Medina and the Brazilian Neuza Back. Frappart had already participated in the match between Mexico and Poland, for the first round of group C, but as a fourth referee. In addition to the three, Canadian Kathryn Nesbitt will be part of the VAR team.

For the first time, FIFA has invited women to be part of the competition’s refereeing team. Six have been shortlisted, with Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga and Japan’s Yamashita Yoshimi closing the list alongside the four who will feature in this Thursday’s (1st) clash between Costa Ricans and Germans. Neuza Back, 38, was the only Brazilian chosen to be in Qatar.

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Who are they?

Stephanie Frappart was the referee responsible for refereeing the Women’s World Cup final in 2019, and also became the first woman to referee a Champions League and World Cup qualifier, both for men.

Neuza Back plays regularly in matches of series A and B of the Brazilian championship, Copa do Brasil. In 2021, she also participated in the Club World Cup, the Tokyo Olympics and the Copa Libertadores de América.

Mexico’s Karen Díaz Medina has been playing in the country’s League since 2016 and in 2018 she was promoted to FIFA referee. Díaz appeared in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, a competition in which Canadian Kathryn Nesbitt also participated. Nesbitt also has experience playing Major League Soccer matches and Women’s World Cups, between the adult, under-20 and under-17 categories.

Also in the game between Costa Rica and Germany will be Honduran fourth official Said Martinez, and VAR team members Drew Fischer (Canada), Jérome Brisard (France) and Massimiliano Irrati (Italy).