Rabat – Moroccan referee Bouchra Karboubi was the main referee for the Australia-New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup clash between the United States and Vietnam. The game, which took place on Saturday, ended with a 3-0 victory for the American side.
The 34-year-old referee is no stranger to making history, having made headlines in 2022 after becoming the first female referee to officiate the final match of Morocco’s Throne Cup.
In addition, she made history in 2020 when she was chosen to officiate in Morocco’s top men football league, the Botola Pro 1.
Besides Karbouba, FIFA has selected Moroccans Fatiha Jermoumi and Soukaina Hamdi as assistant referees at the Women’s World Cup.
Moroccan referees are not the only ones making strides at the tournament, as the 2023 Women’s World Cup marks the Moroccan national team’s first ever participation in the global showpiece.
The Atlas lionesses qualified for the tournament after beating Botswana at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations’ (WAFCON) quarter finals in 2022.
The World Cup draw has placed Morocco in Group H, alongside Germany, South Korea, and Colombia.
For their opening game, Morocco will lock horns with Germany on Monday, July 24 at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Australia.
Read also: Moroccan Referee Bouchra Karboubi Stole the Spotlight at 2021 AFCON
The Atlas Lionesses will enter the tournament with hope and aspiration to achieve a successful World Cup campaign. However, their mission will be challenging when they play against Germany, which has participated in every edition of the Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1992 and won the tournament twice.
“We know that we are the underdogs of this group but that does not prevent us from making it difficult for all these nations,” Morocco’s Head Coach Reynald Pedros said.
The ongoing tournament is taking place between July 20 and August 20, with Morocco being the only representatives of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
