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ATLANTA—FIFA marked the “International Day for Countering Hate Speech” as the four global host venues– Atlanta, Los Angeles, Guadalajara and Vancouver—welcomed fans from around the world to the matches with a message of unity on June 18.
As part of FIFA’s global Stop Hate campaign, pennants bearing “WE PLAY TOGETHER. WE STAND AGAINST HATE.” were displayed in the languages of the competing teams on one side and in English on the reverse. The ceremony also included the captains’ pennants exchange prior to kickoff and LED displays promoting unity.
The games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, branded as Atlanta Stadium for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ events, also featured a trio of women referees for the June 18 Czechia v. South Africa match. The announcement that the trio—Tori Penso, Brooke Mayo, and Kathryn Nesbitt—has soccer fans excited, receiving thousands of likes on social media. The all-female officiating crew underscored FIFA’s ongoing commitment to promote unity and inclusion throughout the games.
FIFA promotes unity as women’s referee trio makes history at Atlanta’s June 18 games
