Czech Republic faces South Africa in crucial World Cup match
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 17, 2026, 7:41 PM
Last updated Jun 17, 2026
The Czech Republic takes on South Africa on June 18 in a must-win World Cup match. Both teams lost their opening games: the Czechs to South Korea and South Africa to Mexico. Referee Tori Penso will officiate, marking the second World Cup match officiated by a woman. Czech striker Ladislav Krejci emphasized that performance, not gender, is what matters in refereeing. Coach Miroslav Koubek expressed confidence despite the pressure to secure a result.
- •Czech Republic lost their opener against South Korea.
- •South Africa fell to Mexico in their first match.
- •Tori Penso will officiate the game.
- •Ladislav Krejci comments on the importance of referee performance.
- •Miroslav Koubek acknowledges the pressure to win.
- 7:41 PMYahoo Sports — Czech
"The Czech Republic can not afford another defeat at the World Cup and are focussed solely on the result and not the fact their game against South Africa on Thursday will be the second in history officiated by a woman. American Tori Penso has been appointed refree for the match, four years after Stephanie Frappart made gender history by officiating Germany v Costa Rica.
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