Stephanie Frappart to make history as first female World Cup referee in Costa Rica vs Germany

Stephanie Frappart will make history when she becomes the first female referee to take charge of a World Cup match.

Frappart will lead an all-female team in Thursday’s clash between Costa Rica and Germany, with Neuza Back, of Brazil, and Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina running the line.

Frappart has blazed a trail for female officials in the men’s game, becoming the first woman to referee matches in each of Ligue 1, the Champions League and World Cup qualifying.

During the earlier weeks of the tournament, she has undertaken fourth official duties.

A fourth woman match official FIFA picked for this World Cup, Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States, will also be working at the Al Bayt Stadium as the offside specialist in the video review team.

Two other women, Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda and Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan, are also on the FIFA list to referee games in Qatar.