From the local futsal courts of Lebanon to the international spotlight of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Nour Chaito’s journey is one of determination, identity and a belief that no dream should be limited by expectations.

When she first stepped onto a futsal court as a referee in Lebanon, she could hardly have imagined where the journey would take her. What began as a love for football gradually became a career built on determination, continuous learning and the courage to challenge expectations.

Yet, beyond the whistle and the international recognition lies a story that goes much deeper than refereeing. As a hijabi athlete, sports science graduate, strength and conditioning coach, and entrepreneur, she has built her path without compromising her identity or ambitions while challenging perceptions about women in sport, showing that determination and authenticity can go hand in hand.

“My journey started with my love for sports and specifically for football, and sport has been a huge part of my life, but I never imagined that one day I would be standing on an international court as a referee,” Nour told Inside FIFA. “I started locally in Lebanon, learning, making mistakes, developing and challenging myself. With every match, I became more passionate about the game.”

Making history

Today, she stands on the international stage, making history as Lebanon's first hijabi international referee at the FIFA Youth Olympic Futsal Tournaments in Dakar, Senegal. Her selection, she recalls, was an emotional moment.

“It was amazing,” she said. “Seeing my name in the Olympic list for refereeing was so emotional for me. It means that all the small steps, the sacrifices, the difficult days, the moments when I had to believe in myself are worth something.”

“And for Lebanon, it's an incredible source of pride because Lebanon has faced so [many] challenges lately. And I really feel proud when I represent Lebanon and represent FIFA as well.”

“My colleagues in Lebanon have been incredibly supportive throughout my journey, especially our senior referee and instructor. He continue to follow my progress, watch my matches and provide valuable feedback and guidance to help me improve.”

After two years of refereeing at the local level, Chaito was included on FIFA’s international referees list in 2024, marking a significant milestone in her refereeing career. FIFA refereeing courses, alongside the support of the Lebanese Football Association and experienced instructors, have played an important role in her quick progress, which she describes was “challenging”.

“The biggest challenge was learning not to question myself because of how other people might see me,” she explained.

“FIFA and the Lebanese Football Association helped me a lot because we always have courses to improve with the instructors,” she added. “All the courses FIFA has [organised] in Lebanon were a huge improvement for me. I learn a lot from all the courses and they have been giving us [so] much.”

Beyond the challenges of establishing herself in international refereeing, Chaito has also had to navigate the perceptions surrounding women in sport and, particularly, her identity as a hijabi athlete. She has never believed that she should have to choose between her faith, her identity and her ambitions.

“Being a hijabi athlete means being comfortable with who I am without feeling that I have to choose between what I like and what I love and who I am,” explained Chaito. “I never wanted to feel that I had to compromise one part of myself to pursue another or something else. For me, the hijab part is who I am, and being an athlete is also part of who I am. So, these coexist beautifully.”

The 28-year-old referee has challenged mental and cultural barriers while proudly representing her identity on the international stage.

“The biggest barrier was never the hijab itself,” she said. “It was the expectations and perceptions that sometimes come with it. Maybe there are a lot of people who might think that hijab is a barrier, but for me, it never was because I do everything I want and everything I wanted to do, I am doing it.”

“I didn’t want my identity to become a limitation, but I also didn't want to hide it. (I wanted it) to be accepted. So, here I am.”

Beyond the futsal court, her commitment to sport extends into coaching and entrepreneurship. Through her own fitness application, she encourages people to train like athletes.

“Sport has become much more than a passion for me,” she said. “It's how I express myself and challenge myself and connect with people. I experience sport from a different perspective, and through coaching, I help others become better versions of themselves. Through my business and fitness application, I want to make training and athletic development more accessible for everyone, especially training like an athlete.”

In Dakar, the experience has opened another chapter of learning. Working with FIFA instructors and sharing the experience with 21 referees from around the world has allowed her to develop both professionally and personally, while strengthening her pride in representing Lebanon at the Youth Olympic Games.

“With FIFA, it's extremely amazing. They do everything for us to make sure that we are comfortable. We are learning every day, and [after] every match, we have a small debriefing for us to improve, to take the good and bad notes. It's amazing. I will remember that this experience helped me grow as a person and as a referee as well. I will remember the people I met, the instructors and the 21 referees I met here from around the world.”

“Looking back towards Lebanon, I’m sure that many more girls – and women – are very proud that a young lady from Lebanon is here and representing Lebanon and it’s women,” she added.

The experience has also strengthened one of her biggest ambitions: officiating at a FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup. Following the inaugural edition in 2025, the prospect of being part of a future tournament has become an even stronger motivation, and the Youth Olympic Games represent another important step towards that goal.

“It’s one of my ambitions to officiate at the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup. Being part of the Youth Olympic Futsal Tournament is already a wonderful experience, giving me the opportunity to learn and develop alongside FIFA instructors and fellow referees. I would also like to highlight the support of Mr Collina, who has always been very supportive of women in refereeing and has played an important role in encouraging their development.”

Nour’s greatest reward would be knowing that her journey could give a young girl the courage to pursue a dream of her own.

“‘Don't wait for the opportunities to become available. Start preparing yourself to be ready when they come,’” she concluded, offering advice to girls aspiring to become referees.