From Pitch to Screen: Joe Dickerson Prepares for World Cup VAR Duty

Joe Dickerson, North America's premier referee and US Soccer's 2025 male referee of the year, is trading his whistle for a headset at this summer's World Cup. The San Jose native, who never planned to officiate, now finds himself in the high-pressure role of video assistant referee (VAR) operator during the knockout stages. His journey from playing fields to the video booth is fueled by an obsessive attention to detail—a trait honed through philosophy studies and grassroots matches. As a young...