MIAMI, Florida – The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar represents a memorable tournament for Concacaf’s four teams: Canada, Mexico, United States and Costa Rica.
It's also the beginning of a journey for the 25 referees that are representing the Concacaf region in Qatar, including the history-making duo of Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States, who are two of the six women referees at the World Cup, the first time ever that women have been selected for a Senior Men’s World Cup.
Both Diaz Medina and Nesbitt are in Qatar working as Assistant Referees during the tournament.
Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico is one of the six women referees at the World Cup, the first time ever that women have been selected for a Senior Men’s World Cup.
Five Concacaf referees are serving as Head Referees: Ivan Barton (El Salvador), Ismail Elfath (United States), Mario Escobar (Guatemala), Said Martinez (Honduras) and Cesar Arturo Ramos (Mexico).
Ismail Elfath has overseen 17 Concacaf matches and 19 FIFA matches, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
For Barton, Elfath, Escobar and Martinez, it's their first ever time refereeing in a Senior Men’s World Cup, while Ramos is making his second Senior Men’s World Cup appearance after refereeing three matches at Russia 2018.
Cesar Ramos has experience refereeing 27 Concacaf matches and 17 FIFA matches.
Barton has officiated 33 Concacaf matches and six at the FIFA level, Elfath has overseen 17 Concacaf matches and 19 FIFA matches, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Martinez has been the Head Referee for 17 Concacaf matches and five FIFA contests, Escobar has worked 28 Concacaf matches and six within FIFA, while Ramos has experience refereeing 27 Concacaf matches and 17 FIFA matches.
Ivan Barton has officiated 33 Concacaf matches and six at the FIFA level.
In addition to the appointments of Diaz Medina and Nesbitt, Kyle Atkins (U.S.), Helpys Raymundo Feliz (Dominican Republic), Miguel Hernandez (Mexico), Walter Lopez (Honduras), Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica), David Moran (El Salvador), Alberto Morin (Mexico), Corey Parker (U.S.), Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago) and Zachari Zeegelaar (Suriname) are working as Assistant Referees.
Among the Assistant Referees boasting experience at the Senior Men’s World Cup level are Hernandez, Mora and Morin. Hernandez worked three matches at Russia 2018, Mora refereed in one match at Russia 2018 and Morin officiated two matches at South Africa 2010.
Concacaf also have a strong presence among Video Assistant Referees (VAR), with Drew Fischer of Canada, Fernando Guerrero of Mexico and Armando Villarreal of the United States earning the distinction to serve in that capacity during the tournament.
