For 1st Time Ever, 6 Women Officials Participate in FIFA W. Cup

The latest edition of the FIFA World Cup kicked off last Sunday in Qatar. The opening ceremony breathtakingly attracted the eyes of the world.

One of the decisions that made history in this edition is the selection of six women officials: three as referees, and three as assistant referees, including the Japanese Yoshimi Yamashita.

Yamashita was born in Tokyo on February 20, 1986, and she was among the officials of the 2019 Women's World Cup.

The 36-year-old referee was selected alongside Salima Mukansanga and Stephanie Frappart.

She has a wide career in moderating football games as she participated in several international Women's championships, in addition, she took part in the national football tournament for high school students in Japan.

Yamashita was also the first women official in the J1 League.

She said: "There are hardly any female referees in the Middle East, so I would like to see that change, with the Qatar World Cup as the catalyst."

"The fact that women are officiating for the first time at a men's World Cup is a sign to other people that women's potential is always growing and that is something I also feel strongly about," she added.