First Mexican Female Referee Named to Men's World Cup

Katia Itzel García Mendoza, a law student and graduate of the Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), has made history by being designated by FIFA as one of the 52 referees who will participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026, to be held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. This designation makes her the first Mexican female central referee to participate in the world's top men's football event, and also places her as the fourth central referee in history to officiate in a men's World Cup, joining the ranks of Stéphanie Frappart (France), Salima Mukasanga (Rwanda), and Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan), who made history at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The news was received with great emotion by García Mendoza, who, in an encounter with students from the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences (FCPyS), expressed: "It is a great joy to be there and be part of the team of referees who will be at the World Cup, and at the same time, it is a great responsibility." This declaration resonates with the spirit of overcoming and dedication that has characterized her career. García Mendoza, who has also been awarded the National Sports Prize 2024, shared her experience and expectations in an interview, where she revealed that, although she did not know the exact moment when FIFA would make the official announcement, she had the "feeling of being one of the chosen judges". According to her, politics implies making decisions based on present scenarios, where two teams seek the maximum achievement, which translates into the need to use regulations and sports laws to resolve disputes in the best possible way. During her talk with the FCPyS students, Katia Itzel also highlighted that Mexico is prepared for the biggest sporting event. "All referees in the world hope to be on that list and want to be on it," she said. "I believe that there are, obviously, situations in the pipeline that cannot be left behind, but the moment to show ourselves to the world will always be very positive," she emphasized. García Mendoza explained that a referee covers an average of 11.5 kilometers per match and highlighted the growth of female refereeing in the country. "Even so, we don't even reach 10 percent of professional referees in Mexico, although the numbers show the progress we have made," she concluded. "I want them to find in her or him a way to be passionate about football," she stated. Addressing the relationship between political science, law, and refereeing, García Mendoza commented: "Refereeing is a constant decision-making process, and that is also politics." "I feel very good: first, with a lot of gratitude because I believe I represent the space that many female referees also opened for us, and I hope this will also be an even bigger space for all those who come after," added García Mendoza, who seeks to be a role model for new generations. With a clear vision of inclusion, Katia Itzel aspires for girls, boys, and young people, regardless of their gender, to see the referee as a figure different from the one traditionally presented. "When I started, we were about 30 professional female referees, and now we are more than 100 in the whole country," she shared.