.jpg/1280px-CINvLOU_2018-04-07_-_Joseph_Dickerson_(27770780828).jpg) Dickerson in 2018 | |||
| Born |
1987 or 1988 (age 37–38)[1] California, U.S. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2017– | Major League Soccer | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2023– | FIFA listed |
Referee VAR official | |
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Joseph "Joe" Dickerson (born 1987 or 1988) is an American soccer referee who officiates in the Major League Soccer since 2017 and as an international FIFA referee since 2023.[2][3]
Biography and career
Dickerson is a native and a resident of Northern California,[3] and he is also a graduate from the University of California, Davis, where he obtained various degrees in Exercise Biology and Communications.[4][5]
He became a professional soccer referee in January 2013,[1] and was listed in the Major League Soccer in October 2017, officiating his first match between Philadelphia Union vs. Orlando City.[1] In the first seven years of his professional career inside the MLS, Dickerson has refereed at least 114 matches.[1]
In June 2023, Dickerson received the FIFA International badge, taking charge of his first international match in the Gold Cup First Round game between Suriname and Puerto Rico.[6] His second match on the international stage was a friendly game between Mexico and Ghana in Charlotte, North Carolina, and his third one was another friendly between the USMNT and Ghana in Nashville.[6][7]
In August 2023, Dickerson refereed the U.S. Open Cup semifinal match between FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami at the TQL Stadium in Ohio.[8]
Dickerson later served as a VAR official at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia,[9] as well as in the CONCACAF Nations League and the CONCACAF qualification matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[10]
In 2025, after a MLS game between Inter Miami and Orlando City, Dickerson had a verbal confrontation with Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, who questioned and disapproved of his refereeing. Dickerson warned Messi with a second yellow card and told him to "walk away."[10]
Dickerson also refereed in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, leading a chaotic game between El Salvador and Canada, where he showed a straight red card to a Salvadoran player in the Canadians' victory 2-0.[11]
In October 2025, Dickerson was appointed to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, where he officiated both as a match referee and a VAR official.[12] He was assigned as the support (fourth) referee at the final between Argentina and Morocco.[13]
Dickerson is fluent in Spanish, aside from his native English,[1] and has practiced many sports, including soccer, baseball, cross-country, rowing and cycling.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e "La historia de Joe Dickerson, el árbitro políglota que dirigió Argentina vs. Guatemala" [The story of Joe Dickerson, the multilingual referee who officiated Argentina vs. Guatemala]. TyC Sports (in Spanish). June 14, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ "Twelve U.S. Soccer Referees In Action Officiating At The 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup". US Soccer. June 28, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ a b "Cal North Referees Appointed to 2023 FIFA Panel". California North Referee Association. CANORTH Referees. January 4, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ a b "San Jose Soccer Referee Association". sjsra.org. San Jose Soccer Referee Association. 2017.
- ^ "US-based referee Joseph Dickerson to handle Ghana vs. Mexico clash". GhanaWeb. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ a b Hall, Andy (October 16, 2023). "USMNT vs Ghana: who is Joe Dickerson, the referee for the friendly?". AS SPORTS. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ Salazar, Fernando; Hall, Andy (October 15, 2023). "Mexico get their mojo back against Ghana". AS SPORTS. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ "FC Cincinnati 3 MF - Pens MIA Inter Miami CF". ESPN Argentina (in Spanish). August 23, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ "List of appointed FIFA Match Officials (75)" (PDF). FIFA.com. FIFA. 2023. p. 1. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ a b Cardenas, Felipe (May 23, 2025). "Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez led Inter Miami players-only meeting after Orlando loss". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ "Canada downs El Salvador in chaotic game to win Concacaf Gold Cup group". Sports Net Canada. Canadian Press. June 25, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ Batschke, Nayara (October 7, 2025). ""Simplified version" of VAR emerging as vital at Under-20 World Cup soccer tournament". AP NEWS. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ Zajíc, Martín (October 16, 2025). "¿Quién es Maurizio Mariani, el árbitro de Argentina vs. Marruecos por la final del Mundial Sub-20 2025?" [Who is Maurizio Mariani, the referee for Argentina vs. Morocco in the 2025 U-20 World Cup final?]. BOLAVIP (in Spanish). Retrieved October 17, 2025.
