The female referee who made World Cup history delivers a 'premium gift' to Korea... South Africa's key player faces suspension due to accumulated yellow cards, missing the third match

*This content was translated by AI.

Unexpected good news has arrived for the South Korean national football team. Temba Zwane's compatriot and key midfielder Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) will be unable to play against Korea due to accumulated yellow cards. The firm decision by Tori Penso, the female referee who made World Cup history, has ultimately created a major variable for South Korea.

South Africa drew 1-1 with the Czech Republic in the second group stage match of the 2026 Concacaf World Cup held at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, USA, on the 19th (Korea time). Earlier, South Africa suffered a 0-2 defeat against host nation Mexico in the first match. They currently hold one draw and one loss (one point) in this tournament. It is truly a crisis of elimination.

Nevertheless, South Africa still has a final hope. Starting from this tournament, the number of participating countries in the World Cup has increased from 32 to 48, and not only the top two teams from each group but also the eight best-performing third-placed teams among the 12th groups will advance to the Round of 32. South Africa must put everything on the line in their final group stage match against Korea on the 25th.

However, South Africa cannot face Korea at full strength. Veteran midfielder Temba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns) was already sent off with a direct red card in the first match against Mexico. During a late-second-half challenge for the ball, he struck an opposing player in the face and received a red card. FIFA subsequently classified Zwane's foul as violent conduct and imposed a three-match suspension. Zwane will be unable to play in the match against Korea, and even if South Africa advances from the group stage, he will be ineligible for the Round of 32.

Now, another player is set to miss the match. Teboho Mokoena, a key resource in South Africa's midfield, is also ruled out of the game against Korea due to accumulated yellow cards. Mokoena had already received one yellow card in the previous match against Mexico. He then received another yellow card in the match against the Czech Republic, bringing his total to two yellow cards in this tournament.

The incident leading to the yellow card occurred in the 33rd minute of the first half. As Czech midfielder Lukas Fer (Viktoria Plzen) attempted to launch a counterattack, Mokoena stopped him with a rough sliding tackle. Referee Penso did not overlook the incident. With a firm expression, she showed Mokoena a yellow card. Mokoena protested, but the decision stood.

Ultimately, this single yellow card turned into major good news for South Korea. Mokoena is a key midfielder responsible for defensive protection, build-up play, and pressing in South Africa's midfield. With Zwane already out, Mokoena's absence means South Africa will face the final match against Korea with a significant loss in midfield strength.

Coincidentally, the referee who issued the yellow card to Mokoena, Tori Penso, is the person who made new World Cup history in this match. The American-born referee Penso became the first female referee from the United States to officiate a men's World Cup match. Expanding the scope to the entire history of the World Cup, she is only the second woman to blow the whistle in a men's World Cup match. Previously, at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Stephanie Frappart (France) became the first woman to referee a group stage match between Germany and Costa Rica.

Penso began refereeing at the age of 14 to earn pocket money. She once worked in the advertising industry but later dedicated herself entirely to refereeing, breaking several barriers in the world of football. In 2020, she officiated a regular-season Major League Soccer (MLS) match, becoming the first female referee to oversee an MLS game in 20 years. A year later, she led an all-female refereeing team in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

In 2023, she refereed the Women's World Cup final between Spain and England. This was the first time a female referee from the United States officiated a FIFA senior World Cup final. And now, she has set another milestone on this men's World Cup stage.

The refereeing team for the Czech Republic-South Africa match also drew attention. Referee Penso officiated the match alongside assistant referees Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt. The three had previously worked together at the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

Assistant referee Nesbitt was the first American female referee to officiate a men's World Cup match at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Prior to that, in 2020, she became the first woman to receive the MLS Assistant Referee of the Year award. Assistant referee Mayo is also a veteran, having officiated the 2023 Women's World Cup final, the opening match of women's football at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the 2025 Club World Cup.

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*This content was translated by AI.