CNN —Tori Penso watched the 2019 Women’s World Cup at home with her eight-month-old daughter in her arms. Four years and countless professional matches later, Penso will proudly walk onto the pitch with Australia and England to referee the semifinal match of the Women’s World Cup at Sydney’s Stadium Australia on Wednesday. Two years after that, Penso was selected by soccer’s world governing boy FIFA as one of six American referees to go to Australia and New Zealand for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. “If you told me six years ago that I would be here talking to you about to head to New Zealand and Australia for the Women’s World Cup I would have said no way,” she said. Her selection for the Women’s World Cup, once her main goal, is now a stepping stone along her journey to the top of the women’s and men’s game.

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Persons: CNN — Tori Penso, Penso, wouldn’t, ” Penso, couldn’t, ”, “, there’s, Sakina, Sarah Reed, ’, she’s, disallows, William West, I’m Organizations: CNN, Sydney’s, Australia, Major League Soccer, FIFA, ”, MLS, National Women’s Soccer League, Getty Locations: Australia, England, New Zealand, Florida, Portland, New York, Morocco, France, Germany, Melbourne, AFP