Three U.S. Soccer referees have been selected to represent the United States at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship. FIFA referee Ekaterina Koroleva, and assistant referees Felisha Mariscal and Kathryn Nesbitt will work this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament, which runs from Oct. 4-17.
“U.S. Soccer is proud that Katja, Felisha and Katy have been selected for the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Qualifying Tournament,” U.S. Soccer Director of Referee Development Rick Eddy said. “All three women are in CONCACAF’s Elite tier of match officials along with being in the pool of officials for selection for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 France. Katja, Felisha and, Katy have extensive international experience along with working domestic professional leagues in the United States. U.S. Soccer is extremely proud of their selection for this tournament.”
Koroleva was one of 10 Referees, while Mariscal and Nesbitt were two of 10 Assistant Referees appointed to serve at the event, which runs across three cities: Cary, N.C., Edinburg, Texas and Frisco, Texas. The trio will begin their journey in Edinburg, where the teams from Group B will face off on Oct. 5, 8 and 11: Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Cuba.
Currently residing in Seattle, Wash., Koroleva has been on the U.S. Soccer FIFA Panel since 2014. Highlights to the 31-year-old’s professional career include her appointment to the 2015 NWSL Championship, 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, 2018 Tournament of Nations and 2018 Algarve Cup.
Mariscal, who has also been on the U.S. Soccer FIFA Panel since 2014, is an AP Spanish Teacher at Chula Vista High School when she is not training to officiate at the highest levels. After carrying the sideline flag for the NASL final in 2014, Mariscal’s high-profile matches have included the 2016 Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, 2018 Algarve Cup and 2018 Tournament of Nations.
A native of Western New York, Nesbitt made her professional debut with NWSL in April of 2013 as an AR during the FC Kansas City vs. Portland Thorns match. A member of the FIFA panel since 2016, Nesbitt’s FIFA and Concacaf officiating experience includes the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the 2016 Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship. Nesbitt’s most recent high-profile tournament came during the 2018 She Believes Cup, where she was an AR for the Germany vs. England match on March 4. Since the 2017 MLS season began, Nesbitt has held the sideline flag in 12 matches. Off the field, the 29-year-old Nesbitt is an Assistant Professor at Towson University.