Mexico City — Mexican referee Katia Itzel García will make history this Sunday by becoming the first from her country to officiate a FIFA Women’s Champions League final, overseeing the match between Arsenal and Corinthians at London’s Emirates Stadium.
The winning team will receive a record $2.3 million prize, the largest purse in women’s club football history.
García will serve as the center referee, supported by a predominantly Mexican officiating team: Karen Díaz Medina and Sandra Ramírez as assistant referees, Karen Hernández as the fourth official, and Diana Pérez as the VAR assistant.
The Referees Commission highlighted that this group’s presence in a world-class final recognizes the work, preparation, and commitment of Mexican refereeing on the international stage.
This appointment continues García’s rising career ahead of the 2026 World Cup, solidifying her status as one of the world’s top referees. The Mexico City native was ranked as the sixth-best referee globally by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
In 2024, she received the National Sports Award for her career trajectory, alongside footballer Charlyn Corral, who was honored as the best professional athlete.
However, her path has also faced adversity. In 2025, Katia Itzel publicly reported receiving death threats and verbal attacks, highlighting persistent gender-based violence in sports.
FIFA confirmed that besides the $2.3 million champion’s prize, the runner-up will receive $1 million, reaffirming the growth and professionalization of women’s football worldwide.
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