The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be historic for a couple of reasons this year. Not only is it being held in November to December for the first time, not in the middle of the year as normal, but it will also be the first in which women referees direct a men’s soccer World Cup match.
French soccer referee Stephanie Frappart pulls out a yellow card on the field. She is one of three female refs who will officiate World Cup matches this year. (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
The three are Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita, France’s Stephanie Frappart and Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga. They are among the 36 names chosen to direct the upcoming World Cup matches.
None is a stranger to blowing whistles in soccer games, but will bring a different caliber of calls to the field. They’re likely following the ongoing national team friendlies, which are counting down to the start of the World Cup on November 20.
FIFA Breaks The Mold
FIFA has also appointed three female assistants out of 69 on the list – Neuza Back from Brazil, Kathryn Nesbitt from the US and Karen Díaz from Mexico.
The three chosen referees have already had the opportunity to direct men’s matches, and it is striking that their World Cup debut takes place in a Middle Eastern country. There, women do not usually have the same opportunities as men.
Fappart has been able to direct matches of the qualifier towards Qatar and the Champions League, in addition to having whistled in the final of the 2019 Women’s World Cup. More recently, she held the cards in the final of the French Cup of 2022.
Yamashita has also already had the opportunity to direct men’s matches in the Japanese league and the Asian Champions League. In addition, she refereed some matches in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
For her part, Mukansanga made history last year in the African Cup of Nations. She was the first female to direct a match in the competition, doing so with a team made up entirely of women.
For her part, Yamashita wants to make sure her role as a referee enhances, not impedes, the excitement of soccer. She said in an interview, “More than control, I think about what needs to be done towards the big goal of making soccer attractive.”
Friendlies Give Bettors A Taste
There is a series of national team friendlies taking place ahead of the biggest day for soccer fans. Yesterday saw four matches and today brings another two. These are proving to be a chance for some teams to continue their preparations, while giving sports bettors a taste of what’s in store.
World Cup host Qatar had a slow game against Albania, but won 1-0. However, that only came off a penalty shot.
Cameroon drew against Jamaica yesterday, despite being the odds-on favorite. Jamaica attacked first with a second-period score, and it took Cameroon – a World Cup hopeful – almost all of the remaining regulation to tie things up.
Mexico had no trouble taking out Iraq. It won 4-0 in a game that it controlled from the start – it kicked one into the net in the first three minutes.
Costa Rica had a relatively easy match against Nigeria, winning 2-0. It scored in each of the periods, but will need to stay in control during the World Cup. More than once, players let their tempers get out of hand, and that could cost them.
One friendly today had Saudi Arabia facing Panama, who couldn’t make it through the qualifiers. The match, which had Saudi Arabia as the favorite, was fairly even, with Panama attacking first. Saudi Arabia responded, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Iraq and Nicaragua are still in their match, with Iran in front, 1-0. There’s still more time for Nicaragua, a major underdog in this game, to work some magic, even though it’s not on its way to the World Cup.
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