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Tech soccer alumna Brooke Mayo reflects on officiating 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Tennessee Tech alumna and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup official Brooke Mayo.
When the opening ceremonies of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final began on July
20, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand, a Tennessee Tech University alumna was there to
witness it all – and not just as a spectator.
Brooke Mayo, a 2011 Tech graduate with a degree in exercise science and a breakout
Golden Eagle women’s soccer star playing from 2007 to 2010, was selected by FIFA to
officiate women’s soccer’s biggest event.
For Mayo, her time as an assistant referee at the quadrennial international tournament
was the realization of a long-held dream and the culmination of what she calls a “grueling”
multi-year process.
Initial candidates for the 2023 Women’s World Cup officiating crew were selected nearly
three years ago, with the final list announced in December 2022.
“You have to work your way up the ranks in your country then, for us, CONCACAF [the
Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football] and finally
FIFA,” said Mayo, who started working towards an officiating career in 2013.
Ultimately, Mayo was one of only four American referees selected to officiate the
World Cup’s final match, held between Spain and England, on August 20 in Sydney, Australia.
The game ended with Spain claiming its first ever title with a 1-0 win over England.
After the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. From left: Brooke Mayo, assistant referee,
Armando Villarreal, assistant video assistant referee (AVAR), Kari Seitz, FIFA referee
manager-women’s, Tori Penso, referee, Cindy Parlow Cone, U.S. Soccer president, and
Kathryn Nesbitt, assistant referee 2.
Even when officiating an international athletic event, Mayo says her years at Tech
are never far from her mind.
“My time at Tech profoundly shaped me,” said Mayo, who recounted visits to the Upper
Cumberland’s many waterfalls and performing at open mic nights in Tech’s Backdoor
Playhouse among her favorite memories as a student. “Tech provided not only an excellent
education but a lifelong family and network of friends, as well as the tools to be
successful.”
Mayo, pictured above as a Tech student, was a breakout Golden Eagle women’s soccer
star playing from 2007 to 2010.
Mayo praised Tech exercise science department faculty’s personal investment in her
success, noting that, “not only did they care about me as a young student, but they
cared about me as a person. Many have even kept up with me years and years after graduating.”
Tech faculty such as Christy Killman, Christina Turnbow, Michael Philips, and former
faculty members J.P. Barfield and Lebron Bell were particularly impactful on her university
experience, according to Mayo. Likewise, Mayo credits Lauren Neal, recently retired
senior project coordinator for the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning,
for introducing her to the local soccer scene and for taking her in “as if I were
family.”
Mayo also paid tribute to Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson and athletics staff
including Frank Harrell and Mandy Thatcher for “encouragement and support” that she
says helped her in her own career, including her former role as assistant athletic
director at Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna, Tennessee.
From left: Brooke Mayo, former Tech tennis player Yianni Doropoulos, and Mayo’s partner
Falon Catalano are pictured after Mayo officiated her first World Cup match, Germany
vs. Morocco, in Melbourne, Australia.
While the Garland, Texas native is already looking ahead to future officiating roles,
Mayo says she is still riding a wave of gratitude and excitement from her experiences
this summer.
“I have always loved this beautiful game and how it brings the world together,” said
Mayo. “This was the biggest, most attended, most viewed Women’s World Cup ever. I
feel so lucky and fortunate to have been a part of it.”
