 Dickerson in 2018 | |||
| Born | 1987or1988(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 | |
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]
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]
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]