Victor Rivas (referee)
 Rivas in 2025 | |||
| Full name | Victor Manuel Rivas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | January 26, 1987 | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2018– | Major League Soccer | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2023– | FIFA | Referee | |
Victor Manuel Rivas (born January 26, 1987) is an American soccer referee with the Professional Referee Organization. He primarily referees in Major League Soccer.[1]
Career
[edit]Rivas began refereeing in California when he was 17 years old. He began rising through the ranks and officiated matches in the USL and NASL.[2]
Rivas made his Major League Soccer refereeing debut on May 12, 2018.[3] He earned his FIFA badge at the start of the 2023 season.[4] Rivas took charge of his first MLS playoff match in 2022, and officiated a semifinal in 2023. He was also the fourth official for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game.[5] In 2023, Rivas was named the MLS Referee of the Year.[6][7]
Rivas has additionally been chosen for several international events.[8] He has officiated matches at the CONCACAF Under-17 and Under-20 Championships, the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, and in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. He has also refereed various Leagues Cup matches.[9][10]
Personal life
[edit]Victor Rivas resides in California, and was a swim coach before transitioning to full time refereeing.[11]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Referees". Professional Referee Organization. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Victor Rivas named MLS Referee of the Year". East Bay Referee Association. December 1, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Victor Rivas named MLS Referee of the Year". East Bay Referee Association. December 1, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Inside FIFA". FIFA. Archived from the original on August 1, 2026. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Victor Rivas named 2023 MLS Referee of the Year". Major League Soccer. November 16, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Victor Rivas named MLS Referee of the Year, Ian McKay earns MLS Assistant Referee of the Year accolades". Major League Soccer. November 16, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "MLS Awards Roll of Honor". Professional Referee Organization. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ Moore-Bloom, Arlo (July 17, 2024). "Victor Rivas on full-time reffing, his 'undefined love' of soccer, and officiating MLS's global stars". Soccer America. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers – CONCACAF (Round 3, Matchday 6)". Refereeing World. November 18, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Concacaf Program of Refereeing Excellence marks third year". CONCACAF. July 28, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Soccer America: Victor Rivas on full-time reffing, his 'undefined love' of soccer, and officiating MLS stars". CNRA. August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2026.