MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA –Canada will look ahead to September’s Olympic Qualifiers after they were eliminated from the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in the group phase on Monday 31 July in Melbourne. Canada were eliminated following an 0:4 loss to the co-hosts Australia with goals by Hayley Raso (two), Mary Fowler and Steph Catley on their last day of Group B action.
Canada finished in third place in Group B with four points after a draw, a win and the Monday loss at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. This marked the first time since 2011 that Canada were eliminated from the group phase and the third time they have lost to a tournament host at the FIFA World Cup. Australia won the group with six points while Nigeria finished second with five points after their Monday 0:0 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
Up next, Canada will prepare for Concacaf Olympic Qualifiers with an upcoming two-match playoff series against Jamaica scheduled for the next international window in September. Canada will play away on Friday 22 September and then back home in Toronto on Tuesday 26 September in their two-match, total goals series for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“I think the team has to believe,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach who was looking ahead to the Olympic Qualifiers. “They are committed, they are the most hard-working group, they are the most together group, we just at times need more belief. Once we realise that, this moment can make this team because in a year’s time we could have an Olympic Games.”
Since the Olympic Games in 2021, Canada have posted a record of 15 wins, five draws and eight losses in 28 international matches. That record included a second-place finish at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship in Mexico after Canada qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.
Canada’s FIFA World Cup squad featured Christine Sinclair, Simi Awujo, Kadeisha Buchanan, Gabrielle Carle, Allysha Chapman, Sabrina D’Angelo, Jessie Fleming, Vanessa Gilles, Julia Grosso, Jordyn Huitema, Cloé Lacasse, Ashley Lawrence, Adriana Leon, Nichelle Prince, Lysianne Proulx, Quinn, Jayde Riviere, Deanne Rose, Sophie Schmidt, Kailen Sheridan, Olivia Smith, Evelyne Viens and Shelina Zadorsky.Across this year’s tournament, six players made their FIFA World Cup debuts: goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, centre back Vanessa Gilles, midfielder Julia Grosso, and forwards Cloé Lacasse, Olivia Smith and Evelyne Viens. Captain Christine Sinclair featured in her sixth career FIFA World Cup while Sophie Schmidt featured in her fifth FIFA World Cup.
Across Canada, every match will be broadcast live on CTV, TSN and RDS, the Round of 16 matches are Monday 7 August (Brisbane or Sydney), the Quarterfinals are Saturday 12 August (Brisbane or Sydney), the Semifinals are Wednesday 16 August (Sydney), and the Final is Sunday 20 August (Sydney).
Canada Soccer Media Release
Photo Credit: Canada Soccer
