Jon Freemon & Felisha Mariscal earn 2026 MLS referee accolades

Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization today announced Jon Freemon as the MLS Referee of the Year and Felisha Mariscal as the MLS Assistant Referee of the Year for 2026.

Both are first-time award winners, with Mariscal becoming the first woman to win MLS Assistant Referee of the Year since Kathryn Nesbitt in 2020.

Freemon: MLS Referee of the Year

Freemon, who made his MLS refeering debut in August 2020, has officiated 112 regular-season matches, including 21 in 2026.

Career highlights include five Audi MLS Cup Playoffs assignments across 2023 and 2025, including the 2025 Eastern Conference Final. Freemon also served as the video assistant referee for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game, refereed the 2023 US Open Cup final and was the fourth official for MLS Cup 2023 presented by Audi.

Mariscal: MLS Assistant Referee of the Year

Mariscal has officiated 153 regular-season matches, including 19 in 2026, since making her MLS debut in March 2014. She has worked four Audi MLS Cup Playoffs matches, with appearances in 2018, 2023 and twice in 2024, and served as the reserve assistant referee for the 2025 MLS All-Star Game.

Internationally, Mariscal has represented the United States at major tournaments. Chief among them, the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, where she earned six match assignments, including three on-field appearances and two as an assistant video referee.

Award process

Nominated by a selection process that included executives from the Professional Referee Organization, candidates for both MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year were voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and MLS players.

A full list of the previous winners for both awards can be found below: