CHICAGO (Jan. 10, 2024) – As part of U.S. Soccer’s strategic vision to foster best playing environments, the Federation’s Referee Program, in conjunction with U.S. Soccer’s Referee Committee and FIFA, have appointed a record 41 U.S. Soccer match officials to the 2024 FIFA International Panel.
With their appointments, the 14 referees, 20 assistant referees, 10 video match officials and three futsal referees have the distinction and opportunity to represent the United States at the highest international levels in 2024, including FIFA Men’s, Women’s and Youth World Cups.
The 18 women selected tie the record set in 2023 for the most female U.S. Soccer officials appointed to the FIFA panel. Additionally, seven of the 10 video match officials are also on the FIFA Panel as referees or assistant referees.
Alexandra Bileter (2023)
Danielle Chesky (2020)
Joe Dickerson (2023)
Ismail Elfath (2016)
Jon Freemon (2024)*
Katja Koroleva (2014)
Alyssa Nichols (2023)
Tori Penso (2021)
Victor Rivas (2023)
Natalie Simon (2022)
Lukasz Szpala (2024)*
Rubiel Vazquez (2020)
Armando Villarreal (2015)
Anya Voigt (2024)*
The 14 U.S. Soccer referees on the 2024 FIFA International Panel include three newcomers in Jon Freemon, Lukasz Szpala and Anya Voigt. Freemon, who officiated the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final between Houston Dynamo and Inter Miami, becomes the first Black man to represent U.S. Soccer on the FIFA Panel. The list also includes Tori Penso, who served as the referee for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final between Spain and England.
Appointed in 2014, Katja Koroleva is the longest tenured female referee on the FIFA Panel, while Armando Villarreal (2015) is the longest serving male referee.
Kyle Atkins (2018)
Cameron Blanchard (2019)
Logan Brown (2020)
Jose Da Silva (2023)
Chris Elliott (2024)*
Jennifer Garner (2018)
Ryan Graves (2024)*
Jeremy Kieso (2022)
Felisha Mariscal (2014)
Brooke Mayo (2018)
Alicia Messer (2018)
Meghan Mullen (2022)
Kathryn Nesbitt (2016)
Corey Parker (2015)
Salma Perez (2023)
Cory Richardson (2022)
Kali Smith (2023)
Tiffani Turpin (2023)
Luis Uranga (2020)
Katarzyna Wasiak (2024)*
With their appointments in 2024, Chris Elliot, Ryan Graves and Katarzyna Wasiak take the total number of U.S. Soccer assistant referees on the FIFA Panel to 20. The list also includes Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt, who were part of the referee crew for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final between Spain and England.
Felisha Mariscal (2014) is the longest serving female assistant referee, and Corey Parker (2015) is the longest serving male.
Kyle Atkins (2022)^
Allen Chapman (2021)
Ismail Elfath (2022)^
Timothy Ford (2021)
Edvin Jurisevic (2021)
Katja Koroleva (2023)^
Felisha Mariscal (2022)^
Brooke Mayo (2024)*
Kathryn Nesbitt (2022)^
Chris Penso (2021)^
Armando Villarreal (2022)*
^Also on the 2024 FIFA Panel as a referee or assistant referee
An assistant referee on the FIFA Panel since 2018, Brooke Mayo has also been appointed as a video match official for 2024. The list also includes Armando Villarreal, who served as Assistant Video Assistant Referee for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
Of the 10 VMOs, seven are also referees or assistant referees. Allen Chapman, Timothy Ford and Edvin Jurisevic are solely video match officials and are three of the four longest-serving VMOs on the FIFA Panel.
Joshua Wilkens (2019)
Krystin Pahia (2024)*
Matthew Rodman (2024)*
The appointments of Krystin Pahia and Matthew Rodman as Futsal referees take the total number of U.S. Soccer Futsal officials to three – the most in Federation history. Pahia is also the first woman appointed to the FIFA panel for Futsal. First appointed in 2019, Joshua Wilkens is the longest serving Futsal referee.
This year also marks the retirement of long-time assistant referee Corey Rockwell from the FIFA Panel. Rockwell officiated international matches since 2008 and will continue to work domestic matches.
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer has been the official governing body of the sport in the United States for more than 100 years. As U.S. Soccer looks toward the future amid an unprecedented moment of opportunity, we’ve aligned our efforts around five strategic pillars: Grow the game by increasing youth and adult participation and accessibility to the sport; Foster the best playing environments through quality of referees and coaches, increase DEIB and participant safety; Develop winning teams through solidified pathways and success of professional leagues; Grow the soccer economy to fuel reinvestment by increasing membership, fandom and commercial success; and Create a world-class organization through revitalized structure and culture, best-in-class talent, progress in DEIB, and more. For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.