PHOTOS: Czechia faces South Africa in the second Atlanta game of the World Cup

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PHOTOS: Czechia faces South Africa in the second Atlanta game of the World Cup

Czechia faces South Africa in the second Atlanta game of the World Cup with an all-female crew of referees. Americans Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo and Kathryn Nesbitt are the first crew of U.S. women to officiate a World Cup match.

South Africa forward Evidence Makgopa (left) and Czechia defender David Zima go for the ball in the second half of the FIFA World Cup match between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The teams tied 1-1. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena (center, with fists raised) and teammates celebrate after Mokoena scored on a penalty kick in the second half of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

South Africa defender Ime Okon (21) heads the ball under pressure in the second half of the FIFA World Cup Czechia vs. South Africa game at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) in Atlanta on June 18, 2026. The teams tied 1-1. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

South Africa forward Relebohile Mofokeng (10) shoots in the second half of the FIFA World Cup Czechia vs. South Africa game at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) in Atlanta on June 18, 2026. The teams tied 1-1. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Czechia goalkeeper Matěj Kovář (1) lets in a penalty kick by South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena (4) in the second half of the FIFA World Cup Czechia vs. South Africa game at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) in Atlanta on June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

South Africa fans dance during a hydration break in the second half of the FIFA World Cup Czechia vs. South Africa game at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) in Atlanta on June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Czechia's Lukas Provod right and Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar look back into the net at the ball just kicked by South Africa's Teboho Mokoena for a penlty kick goal during second half of Czechia vs. South Africa Group A FIFA World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

South Africa's Teboho Mokoena's penalty kick hits the next for a goal past Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar during second half of Czechia vs. South Africa Group A FIFA World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Czechia goalkeeper Matěj Kovář (bottom) defends the goal in the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Czechia defender Ladislav Krejčí (left) and South Africa midfielder Thapelo Maseko jump to head the ball in the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Czechia forward Patrik Schick (top) falls onto the field in the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Czechia goalkeeper Matěj Kovář defends the goal in the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar (right) dives for a save during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

South Africa's Khuliso Mudau unsuccesfully tries to save the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

South Africa's Jayden Adams (bottom) slides to try to get the ball from Czechia's Alexandr Sojka during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia players celebrate after scoring a goal in the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Head referee Tori Penso is the first U.S. woman to be head ref at a World Cup match, working the Czechia vs. South Africa game at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (center) gets tripped up by Czechia's Ladislav Krejčí during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia midfielder Alexandr Sojka (left) and South Africa defender Olwethu Makhanya scramble for the ball during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

South Africa's Thalente Mbatha (left) heads the ball past Czechia's Vladimir Darida during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia's Michal Sadilek (center) competes with South Africa's Jayden Adams during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia's Robin Hranac (left) checks on teammate Lukas Cerv after Cerv was fouled during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Head referee Tori Penso signals a corner kick for South Africa during first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

South Africa's Teboho Mokoena (bottom) and Czechia's Vladimir Darida fight for the ball during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Czechia's Michal Sadilek (right) prepares to score a goal during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (right) controls the ball against Czechia's Lukas Cerv during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

A South Africa fan celebrates a goal in the second half of the FIFA World Cup Czechia vs. South Africa game at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) in Atlanta on June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Czechia fans cheer before the start of the Czechia vs. South Africa FIFA World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia fans cheer before start of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia's Michal Sadilek (second from left) celebrates his goal during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

The stadium banner reads “GOAL” after Czechia scores in the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa game at the World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Czechia's Michal Sadilek (center) celebrates his goal during the first half of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Czechia fan before Czechia vs. South Africa Group A FIFA World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia fan before Czechia vs. South Africa Group A FIFA World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Referee Kathryn Nesbitt, part of an all-female referee crew, warms up before the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Head referee Tori Penso (center) is the first U.S. woman to be head ref at a World Cup match. She is joined by assistant referees Brooke Mayo (left) and Kathryn Nesbitt before the start of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Czechia's team poses before start of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Members of the South African team stand for their national anthem before the start of the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia fans cheer before the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Fans stand for the U.S. national anthem before the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Czechia fans get ready for the Czechia vs. South Africa World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

South Africa forward Evidence Makgopa (left) and Czechia defender David Zima go for the ball in the second half of the FIFA World Cup match between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The teams tied 1-1. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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