Besides frequently overseeing matches in domestic and regional competitions such as the China League Two and EAFF E-1 Football Championship, the former physical education teacher most recently took charge of the Final between Japan and DPR Korea at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024.

 

A graduate of the very first batch (B2017) of the acclaimed AFC Referee Academy, Dong will be supported by assistant referee and compatriot Xie Lijun, another familiar face at the continental level who officiated at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ in Uzbekistan as well as the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™. Xie is also a trailblazer in her own right, having become the first woman to oversee a top-flight men's football match in China PR earlier this year.

The duo will be joined by Bao Mengxiao, also from the East Asian nation, who has been selected to act as assistant referee in the same match. The 35-year-old brings considerable experience to the field, having officiated at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2024 and provided her expertise in competitions such as the Maurice Revello Tournament and China League Two.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Australia’s Casey Reibelt, one of the five Asian referees to blow the whistle at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, will provide assistance as fourth official in the face-off between Spain and USA as well as  Paraguay and Morocco.

 

Reibelt, a former AFC Project Future graduate, has appeared in multiple high-profile tournaments including the Final of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™.