Former Golden Eagle Selected for FIFA World Cup

Tennessee Tech Alum to Officiate at 2026 FIFA World Cup

The player that graced the pitch in Cookeville, now will officiate on the world's biggest stage

Paxton Elmore

Jun 04, 2026 - 1 min read

A former Golden Eagle from Cookeville will be making her mark on the global stage this summer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Tennessee Tech soccer player and 2011 graduate Brooke Mayo will be an assistant referee at this year’s FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Mayo played soccer for Tech from 2007-10 and picked up TTU’s NCAA Woman of the Year in 2011. That isn't the only award she has won, earlier this year Mayo was awarded the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Referee of the Year Award.

Mayo served the community for 10 years in the Volunteer state in Smyrna where she coached soccer at Stewarts Creek High School. The soccer official now resides in Colorado.

This World Cup will not be Mayo’s first time on the big stage. She has officiated in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, 2023 Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, 2024 Summer Olympics in France, and the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States. She also officiates in Major League Soccer here in the States.

While you’re watching 48 countries play in this year’s World Cup be on the look out for the former Golden Eagle keeping players like: Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Mbappe, Haaland, and more within the rules of “the beautiful game.”