CHICAGO (Sept. 4, 2018) – Three U.S. Soccer referees have been selected to represent the United States at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay. FIFA referee Ekaterina Koroleva, and assistant referees Felisha Mariscal and Deleana Quan have received invitations to this year’s U-17 Women’s World Cup, which kicks off November 13.
“Congratulations to all three U.S. Soccer match officials appointed to officiate the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Uruguay,” U.S. Soccer Director of Referee Development Rick Eddy said. “We are very proud of Ekaterina, Felisha, and Deleana for their accomplishments and performances in domestic and international competitions.”
“Ekaterina and Deleana return to this event having participated in the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and we are equally excited for Felisha, who makes her debuts in a FIFA World Cup tournament. They have earned the honor to represent the USA and on behalf of the U.S. Soccer referee community we wish them success in Uruguay!”
The United States is one of five nations to send three match officials to Uruguay, joining Argentina, China, Japan and Mexico.
Koroleva was one of 15 Referees, while Mariscal and Quan were two of 30 Assistant Referees appointed to serve at the event, which runs Nov. 13-Dec. 1 across three cities in Uruguay: Colonia Del Sacramento, Maldonado and Montevideo. The trio are three of the nine representatives from Concacaf.
Currently residing in Seattle, Wash., Koroleva has been on the U.S. Soccer FIFA Panel since 2014. Highlights to the 31-year-old’s professional career include her appointment to the 2015 NWSL Championship, 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, 2018 Tournament of Nations and 2018 Algarve Cup.
Mariscal, who has also been on the U.S. Soccer FIFA Panel since 2014, is an AP Spanish Teacher at Chula Vista High School when she is not training to officiate at the highest levels. After carrying the sideline flag for the NASL final in 2014, Mariscal’s high-profile matches have included the 2016 Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, 2018 Algarve Cup and 2018 Tournament of Nations.
A member of the U.S. Soccer FIFA panel since 2016, 34-year-old Quan returns to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after her appointment to the 2016 tournament in Jordan. A native of Fair Oaks, Calif., Quan has also officiated marquee events like the 2017 Concacaf U-17 Championship, 2018 Algarve Cup and the 2018 Tournament of Nations.