The Czechia national football team began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 1-1 draw against South Africa on June 18, 2026. The match in Atlanta was also historic for referee Kathryn Nesbitt, who was part of the first all-American, all-female officiating crew in World Cup history, as reported by sjfathletics.com.
This result gave Czechia their first point in the group stage. After three matches played, the team sits in fourth place with one point, having scored two goals and conceded six. They trail group leaders Mexico by eight points. Their recent form, however, shows improvement with one win and two draws in their last three outings, leaving them unbeaten. You can track their tournament journey on our stats page.
Who is Kathryn Nesbitt and why is her story significant?
Kathryn Nesbitt is a chemistry professor at Towson University who has simultaneously built a top-tier career as a soccer official. She made her debut in the top US women's league, the NWSL, in 2013. Two years later, she became the second woman hired by Major League Soccer and has been on FIFA's panel of assistant referees since 2016. In March 2021, she became the first woman to officiate a men's World Cup qualifier.
Her barrier-breaking moments continued. In December 2020, she was the first woman to referee a championship match in professional men's sports in North America, specifically the MLS Cup, earning her the MLS Assistant Referee of the Year award. In 2022, she served as a reserve assistant referee for the men's World Cup final between Argentina and France, becoming the first American woman to do so. She was named the inaugural U.S. Soccer Female Referee of the Year in 2024.
How did a chemist become a referee at World Cups?
Nesbitt began officiating at age fourteen as an assistant referee for out-of-bounds calls on the end line. "My mom said to me, 'Go do that'," she recalled. She studied chemistry at St. John Fisher University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 2010. She then pursued a PhD in chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, which she successfully completed. She worked for two years as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan before becoming an assistant professor of chemistry at Towson University.
"I am not really sure what kept me going at a young age, but I think some of it was that I liked being outside and I liked being athletic," she said of her beginnings. Her scientific career provided discipline she now applies on the pitch. Beyond the men's 2022 World Cup and the Czechia vs South Africa match at the current tournament, she also officiated the 2023 Women's World Cup final between Spain and England and the 2024 Women's Olympic Football Tournament in France.
What is Czechia's current situation ahead of their next match?
Following the opening draw with South Africa, the Czech national team faces an important home fixture. You can see how the team is positioned in the group on our standings page. The current three-match unbeaten run (win, draw, draw) provides the squad with some confidence ahead of the upcoming challenge.
The Czechia team now prepares for their fourth match in the World Cup 2026 qualifying phase. This match is key to keeping their hopes of advancement alive. Further details on the squad and potential changes can be found on the squad page. Czechia will play Croatia at home on September 26, 2026.
