North Wales referee will be in charge of Women’s World Cup third-place play-off

Llandudno’s Cheryl Foster will referee the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup third-place play-off between Sweden and Australia.

The tournament has seen Foster become the first person from Wales to officiate at a World Cup finals since Clive Thomas, who refereed Brazil versus Sweden at the men’s 1978 competition.

Foster has already overseen three games in the 2023 Women’s World Cup after taking charge of two group stage fixtures and the round of 16 clash between Switzerland and Spain.

The third-place play-off adds to a growing list of high-profile games that Foster, who took charge of the UEFA Women’s Champions League final earlier this year, has been entrusted to referee.

A former Cymru international player, she has officiated at the highest level of both men’s and women’s domestic football in Wales for several seasons.

She earned her FIFA Badge in 2016 and officiated the UEFA EURO 2022 semi-final between France and Germany.

As a player, she represented Bangor City and Liverpool and won 63 full caps for Wales between 1997-2011

She started training as a referee in 2013 after retiring as a professional footballer aged 32.

At this weekend’s latest prestigious assignment, Foster will be assisted by Michelle O’Neill, Franca Overtoom and Rebecca Welch for the penultimate game of the tournament, which will be shown live on ITV1 on Saturday 19 August, with a 9am BST kick-off at Lang Park in Brisbane.