The first time in 20 years! Female referee set to officiate top-flight match between Pachuca and Queretaro in Mexico

The Associated Press reports that a female referee will take charge of a Mexican top-flight match for the first time in two decades in the 11th round of the Clausura tournament when Pachuca face Queretaro on Sunday. She will become the first female referee in Mexico's top-flight since Virginia Tovar in 2004.

Itzel has years of experience and has been working as recently as this week. She took charge of the Concacaf W Gold Cup clash between the United States women's national team and Canada on Wednesday, and will now travel back to Mexico.

Itzel has been a referee since 2016 and officiated matches at the 2023 Women's World Cup. At the tournament, she took charge of New Zealand's loss to the Philippines, as well as the draw between the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria.

Itzel will end a two-decade long absence for women referees in the Mexican top-flight. Pachuca are third in the Liga MX while Queretaro are 10th heading into Sunday's encounter.