Nervous but excited, Japan's first female World Cup referee primed for action

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Round of 16 - Germany v Nigeria - Stade des Alpes, Grenoble, France - June 22, 2019 Referee Yoshimi Yamashita refers to VAR REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/Files

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Yoshimi Yamashita, one of a trio set to make history this autumn in Qatar as the first women referees to officiate at a men's World Cup, feels both pressure and excitement at the prospect of being a pioneer.

"We have to consistently see female referees (on the pitch) to normalise it. I feel pressure to earn everyone's trust and make that happen," the 36-year-old told a Tokyo news conference on Thursday.