Kathryn Nesbitt is a 32-year-old soccer referee from Philadelphia. She became a pioneer as FIFA appointed women to work on-field officials for men’s World Cup qualifiers. She served as an assistant referee when Canada opened with a 5-1 rout of Bermuda at Orlando. A former competitive figure skater and chemistry professor, she worked 18 MLS games last year and was voted the league’s assistant referee of the year. She can’t point toward any instance of sexism aimed at her. She says: “I think I was treated the same way a new referee would be treated.”
