Record 47 U.S. Soccer Officials Earn Appointments to 2026 FIFA International Panel
- Jonathan Turner
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
ATLANTA – U.S. Soccer announced a record-setting achievement as 47 American match officials have been appointed to the 2026 FIFA International Panel following the nomination process conducted by U.S. Soccer’s Referee Committee.
Those selections account for 53 total FIFA badges across multiple disciplines, including referees, assistant referees, video match officials (VMOs), futsal referees and beach soccer referees, marking the highest total in federation history.
“This record number of appointments is a direct reflection of the quality, professionalism, and consistency of U.S. Soccer referees across every discipline,” said U.S. Soccer Vice President of Refereeing Kari Seitz. “Our referees consistently deliver at the highest level, and that reputation allows the United States to continue expanding its presence on the global stage. Great soccer depends on great referees, and this group exemplifies the very best of our program.”
For 2026, the FIFA Panel will include 16 referees, 20 assistant referees, 11 video match officials, four futsal referees and two beach soccer referees, all representing the United States at the highest international level.
Notable First-Time Appointments
Joining the FIFA Panel for the first time in 2026 are:
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Video Match Official: Jose Carlos Rivero
Futsal Referees: Servando Berna, Drew Klemp
Beach Soccer Referees: Vince Apple-Chiarella, Conrado Garcia
The appointments of Apple-Chiarella and Garcia mark the first time U.S. Soccer will have beach soccer representation on the FIFA Panel. Meanwhile, the additions of Berna and Klemp increase U.S. Soccer’s futsal representation to a federation-record four officials.
Additionally, six of the 11 video match officials are also appointed to the FIFA Panel as referees or assistant referees, highlighting the versatility and depth of the U.S. officiating pool.
2026 FIFA PANEL – U.S. OFFICIALS
Referees
(First year on FIFA Panel in parentheses)
Alexandra Billeter (2023)
Danielle Chesky (2020)
Joe Dickerson (2023)
Ismail Elfath (2016)
Jon Freemon (2024)
Guido Gonzales, Jr. (2025)
Katja Koroleva (2014)
Rosendo Mendoza (2026)
Alyssa Pennington (2023)
Tori Penso (2021)
Victor Rivas (2023)
Natalie Simon (2022)
Lukasz Szpala (2024)
Rubiel Vazquez (2020)
Armando Villarreal (2015)
Anya Voigt (2024)
Assistant Referees
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)
Tiffini Turpin (2023)
Nick Uranga (2020)
Katarzyna Wasiak (2024)
Video Match Officials
Kyle Atkins (2022)
*Allen Chapman (2021)
Joe Dickerson (2025)
*Timothy Ford (2021)
Edvin Jurisevic (2021)
Katja Koroleva (2025)
*Brooke Mayo (2024)
*Kathryn Nesbitt (2022)*
Chris Penso (2021)
Jose Carlos Rivero (2026)
Armando Villarreal (2022)*
*Also appointed as a referee or assistant referee
Futsal Referees
Servando Berna (2026)
Drew Klemp (2026)
Krystin Pahia (2024)
Matthew Rodman (2024)
Veteran referee Josh Wilkins has retired after serving on the FIFA Panel since 2019.
Beach Soccer Referees
Vince Apple-Chiarella (2026)
Conrado Garcia (2026)
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