She’s making history as the first openly LGBTQIA+ match official at the Men’s World Cup
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY HAYDEN SCHIFF VIA FLICKR
Yesterday (Thursday 19 June), as the Czech Republic and South African men’s teams faced off at the Men’s World Cup, queer history was made. Assistant referee Brooke Mayo (37), who is openly gay, became the first out-LGBTQIA+ match official to preside over a match at the men’s FIFA World Cup. This was also the first time and all-American, all-female crew officiated a World Cup game.
Brooke came out publicly in 2024 during Pride month. She wrote in a blog post for the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Organisation: “As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I would like to share a message with you as we wrap up Pride month. Growing up in the South was not easy, and I have always struggled with the delicate balance of authenticity versus safety […] There is one place where I feel the most supported being my authentic self, the soccer field. Soccer is truly a beautiful game that has the capability of uniting the world. There is such a unique bond among officials that transcends differences.”
Brooke, originally from Texas, has been playing football since she was four years old. From there, she played the sport recreationally until she was 12. She then started playing competitive travel soccer, becoming a referee at just 13 years old. This moment is undeniably a dream come true and a career highlight.
This month, she confirmed to Outsports that she is gay and “grateful for the support of the wider community”.
Suffice to say, lesbian and queer sport fans are quickly becoming obsessed with this ref. It is great to see some much-needed queer visibility on the men’s pitch during the World Cup. LGBTQIA+ visibility has undeniably lagged behind that present in women’s football, and queer fans have long been hoping for more visibility on the pitch during the men’s game.
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