Canada Soccer News

Jessie Fleming from Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team has been named the Canada Soccer Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Fleming won the 2022 award after a year in which she helped Canada qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 and then capture a silver medal at the Concacaf W Championship. She also helped her professional club Chelsea FC win the 2021-22 FA Women’s Super League and 2022 FA Cup in England. Fleming was a Best XI all-star at the Concacaf W Championship where she featured in all five Canada matches and co-led the tournament with three goals. She scored in the opening match against Trinidad & Tobago, scored the winner against Costa Rica to secure first place in Group B, and scored the winner against Jamaica to reach Final. Across the calendar year, the 24-year old midfielder from London, Ontario co-led Canada with five goals and led the Women’s National Team with 17 appearances and 1,420 minutes played. She also made her first-ever start as Canada’s captain in February and then made her milestone 100th international “A” appearance in a home draw against Korea Republic in June. At the club level from January through December, Fleming has made more than 40 appearances for Chelsea FC across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. She helped Chelsea FC finish first overall in the FA Women’s Super League with a record of 18 wins, two draws and two losses. She also featured as a substitute in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, a 3:2 win over Manchester City FC. From the first half of the 2022-23 season, Chelsea FC are in first place in the FA Women’s Super League and have already qualified for the knockout phase of UEFA Women’s Champions League. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Canada Soccer Player Awards, with the two winners of the Canada Soccer Players of the Year award named Wednesday 21 December (Women’s National Team) and Thursday 22 December (Men’s National Team). Voting for the Canada Soccer Players of the Year award is conducted by Canadian media and coaches. Fleming is now in her 10th international season with Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team, having made her international “A” debut for Canada on 15 December 2013. She has led Canada in minutes played in each of the last two seasons and has scored 19 career goals in 111 international “A” appearances. She follows Charmaine Hooper and Christine Sinclair as just the third Women’s National Team player to win Canada Soccer’s Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons.

Alphonso Davies from Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team has been named the Canada Soccer Player of the Year for the fourth time in five seasons. Davies won the 2022 award after the Men’s National Team returned to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years and he scored the program’s first-ever goal on the world’s biggest stage. He helped his professional club FC Bayern win both the 2021-22 Bundesliga and 2022 DFL Supercup in Germany while also becoming the all-time Canadian leader in UEFA Champions League appearances. Davies was the lone Canadian attacker to play every minute at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and he scored the opening goal of Canada’s second group match against the eventual bronze medal winners Croatia. It was the most-watched soccer match in Canadian television history with 4.4 million average viewers across TSN, CTV and RDS. Across the calendar year, the 22-year old Canadian from Edmonton, Alberta finished tied for second on Canada with three goals in seven international matches and he earned Canada’s Player of the Match honours in both a Concacaf Nations League win against Curaçao and the FIFA World Cup loss to Croatia. He earned Canada Soccer Player of the Month honours in April, June and November.

At the club level from January through December, Davies made 27 appearances for FC Bayern across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, notably helping his club win the 2021-22 Bundesliga title by eight points and lead the 2022-23 campaign by four points through the December break. He helped FC Bayern reach the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals in 2021-22 and then reach the knockout phase with a perfect 6-0-0 record in the 2022-23 group phase. Across the past five seasons, he has featured in a Canadian record 26 UEFA Champions League matches. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Canada Soccer Player Awards, with co-winners Jessie Fleming (Women’s National Team) and Alphonso Davies (Men’s National Team) selected the Canada Soccer Players of the Year in a vote shared by Canadian media and coaches. Alongside the 2022 Canada Soccer Players of the Year, Simi Awujo and Ismaël Koné were named the Young Players of the Year, Daniel Chamale was named the Futsal Player of the Year, and Samuel Charron was named the Para Soccer Player of the Year. Davies is now in his sixth international season with Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team, having made his international “A” debut for Canada on 13 June 2017. He has scored 13 career goals in 33 international “A” matches and he is the Men’s National Team’s alltime leader with 16 career assists. He follows Charmaine Hooper, Christine Sinclair and Dwayne De Rosario as just the fourth player to win the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award four times.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022 CANADA 2 v 0 ARGENTINA ESTADIO SANLUQUEÑO, SANLÚCAR DE BARRAMEDA, CÁDIZ, SPAIN ATTENDANCE 210

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team posted a 2:0 victory over Argentina on Thursday in their first match of the International Soccer Festival at the Estadio Sanluqueño in Spain. Evelyne Viens was responsible for the opening goal which was redirected by Argentine defender Vanesa Santana before Cloé Lacasse doubled the lead with her first international goal for Canada. Canada scored both of their goals in the second half while goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and the backline posted the clean sheet.

Against Argentina, the Canadians now have a lifetime record of six wins in as many games with 14 goals scored to just one conceded, since their first duel dating back to the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup USA™. The win brings the Canadian women’s record to nine wins, three draws and two losses since the start of 2022 as the squad continues its preparations for the 2023™ FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand. “With three good chances in the first half, we took a while to get going, given that we’d only had one real training session going into it,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Head Coach. “At the end of the day, I’m happy because of the finishes that came in, with Clarissa Larisey and Simi Awujo part of the build up on goals, Evelyne Viens responsible for the opening goal and then Cloé Lacasse scoring her first international goal. Overall this speaks to the depth of the team and it’s great that these players are getting the experience now for the future.” Goals

CAN 68′ 1-0 (own goal) CAN 87′ Cloé Lacasse 2-0

CANADA – 1 GK Kailen Sheridan; 23 Bianca St-Georges(5 Quinn HT), 3 Kadeisha Buchanan, 4 Shelina Zadorsky, 2 Allysha Chapman (27 Sura Yekka 70′), 17 Jessie Fleming capt., 7 Julia Grosso (28 Simi Awujo 64′), 16 Janine Beckie, 19 Adriana Leon (29 Clarissa Larisey 78′), 15 Nichelle Prince (20 Cloé Lacasse 64′), 9 Jordyn Huitema (24 Evelyne Viens HT) . Coach Bev Priestman. Unused substitutes: GK 18 Sabrina D’Angelo; GK 22 Lysianne Proulx; 11 Desiree Scott, 13 Sophie Schmidt, 21 Jade Rose, 25 Sarah Stratigakis, 26 Zoe Burns. Referee: Alberto Sevillano Marín (Damián Aucha Trujillo, Adrián Alcón Pérez, Alejandro Ochoa Lopez)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 CANADA 4 v 0 MOROCCO ESTADIO MUNICIPAL DE CHAPÍN, JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, ANDALUCIA, SPAIN ATTENDANCE 20

Despite missing captain Christine Sinclair and other veterans through injury, Canada coach Bev Priestman got two wins and some young players putting up their hands in the October FIFA international window. Evelyne Viens scored one goal and helped set up two others Monday as Canada defeated Morocco 4-0 in an international women’s soccer friendly, following a 2-0 victory Friday over Argentina. “It’s getting more and more exciting as a coach when you look down your bench — whoever starts, whoever finishes, you know that the whole team has a contribution towards the win,” said Canada coach Bev Priestman. Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie and Clarissa Larisey had the other Canada goals at Estadio Municipal de Chapin. Veteran Sophie Schmidt, earning her 216th cap, provided an offensive spark off the bench. Viens, 25, notched her third goal in her 12th Canada appearance and was a threat all game. “She just looks like she’s enjoying herself rather than have the weight of the world on her shoulders … I just asked her to relax and do exactly what she does at (her) club. And arguably she’s done that. I’m really happy for her,” Priestman said of Viens, who plays for Sweden’s Kristianstads DFF. The pacey 23-year-old Larisey opened her senior scoring account in her third appearance. And a pair of 19-year-olds excelled. Jade Rose started at centre back and looked calm and composed while midfielder Simi Awujo impressed off the bench. It took a while to get going, however. Morocco, ranked 76th in the world, proved to be a stubborn opponent to break down. The seventh-ranked Canadians had 73 per cent possession in the first half but only managed three shots on target with Fleming providing the go-ahead goal in the 24th minute. “The first half I was really disappointed … Second half, I liked the response,” said Priestman. “There’s never an easy international,” she added. “These teams are resilient and they’ll do anything to try and make your lives difficult in these games … At the end of the day 4-0 I’ll take it across 90 minutes. I just wish we could get that first-half performance back.” The Atlas Lionesses, headed to their first-ever World Cup, were runner-up to South Africa at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July. Canada downed No. 31 Argentina on Friday in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain, taking the lead on a 68th-minute Argentine own goal and 87th-minute strike by substitute Cloe Lacasse. Morocco lost 4-0 to No. 32 Poland last Thursday in Seville, Spain. Priestman made six changes to her starting lineup inserting goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, Desiree Scott, Jade Rose, Viens, Lacasse and Quinn,. The starting 11 came into the game with a combined 730 caps with 416 of those coming from Scott, Fleming and Kadeisha Buchanan. Scott, earning her 184th cap, took over as captain from Fleming. In addition to Sinclair, Canada was missing the injured Ashley Lawrence, Vanessa Gilles, Deanne Rose, Gabrielle Carle and Jayde Riviere. Allysha Chapman was hurt in the physical Argentina game. Morocco hung back in an effective defensive block, looking to counter-attack. The Canadians had more of the ball but struggled to build on offence in a drab start to the contest. That changed in the 24th minute when a poor clearance by Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi was intercepted by an opportunistic Viens, who found an onrushing Fleming in the penalty box. The Chelsea midfielder steamed past defender Nouhaila Benzina and beat Er-Rmichi for her 19th goal in 109 internationals. Viens doubled the lead in the 54th minute, rising high to head the ball home for her third international goal. The play came off a Canada corner that was initially cleared but only as far as Schmidt, who sent a fine cross back into the penalty box. A minute later, Schmidt hit the crossbar with a header of her own off another corner. Er-Rmichi got a hand to a hard Prince shot from the edge of the penalty box in the 80th minute. Priestman sent on Shelina Zadorsky, Nichelle Prince and Schmidt to start the second half. Quinn, who had been seemingly favouring an ankle, was one of the players replaced. Awujo, Larisey and Zoe Burns followed off the bench as the game wore on. A long-range shot by Morocco, its lone effort on target, produced a diving save from D’Angelo in the 48th minute after a turnover by Schmidt. Beckie made it 3-0 in the 84th after a fine feed from Schmidt. With no defender pressing, Beckie had time to choose her spot, knocking the ball in off the far post for her 36th goal in 98 appearances for Canada. Larisey finished the scoring in the 90th minute, taking advantage of a fine through ball from Viens. An onrushing Er-Rmichi blocked the ball initially but it rebounded to Larisey who poked it home for her first Canada goal. Gatorade Performance of the Match: Quinn 10

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2022 BRAZIL 1 v 2 CANADA

VILA BELMIRO, SANTOS, BRAZIL ATTENDANCE 3,768

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team defeated Brazil 2:1 in Brazil on Nov. 11 in the November window of the international break. Goals from Shelina Zardorsky and Adrianna Leon would be enough to deliver the win for Canada while goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s performance prevented Brazil from equalizing, conceding one goal from eight shots on target. It was an entertaining match between two attack-minded teams. Brazil looked to use their high press to force turnovers in Canada’s half, while Canada played a high line and a congested midfield to prevent Brazil from moving the ball. Brazil had a great chance early on. Canada tried to pass the ball out of their half when goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan played a short pass to midfielder Jessie Fleming from a goal kick. Within moments, Fleming was closed down and dispossessed by the Brazil front line. Canada’s defence collapsed in on the goal threat and forced a corner in the process. Canada turned things around when Christine Sinclair came close to grabbing the opening goal of the match. Canadian defender Ashley Lawrence delivered a left-sided freekick that found Sinclair, but her header was tipped onto the crossbar by Brazilian goalkeeper Leite Lorena. Moments later, Ashley Lawrence whipped in a right-sided cross from open play that found the head of Zadorsky. Zadorsky’s floating header lobbed the keeper and gave Canada a one-goal lead. Christine Sinclair came close to scoring again when her curling shot from the left side of the goal was pushed wide of the post by Lorena. On the following corner kick, Fleming delivered a cross to Sinclair who flicked on a headed pass to the top of the 18-yard box. Patiently waiting, Leon hit a left-footed volley that soared into the bottom right corner and doubled Canada’s lead. Canada’s two-goal unanswered lead received a sharp response from Brazil. In the 33rd minute, a chipped throughball put Brazil’s Debinha in a one-on-one situation against Sheridan. Debinha managed to slip the ball past the Canadian keeper and pull Brazil back into the game. The second half saw the introduction of Gabrielle Carle, Jordyn Huitema, Desiree Scott, Cloé Lacasse and debutant Amanda Allen, who had played in the U-17 World Cup India 2022. Canada didn’t vary from their tactics after the break, despite the personnel changes and leading the match by a goal. As Canada continued to push for a goal, Brazil did the same as they tried to find their equalizer. With both teams attacking, the middle of the park contained more space for Canada to move the ball around. In the 90th minute, Lacasse skipped past three Brazilian players in the attacking third before making her way into the back. She wired a shot from just inside the 18-yard box that skipped wide of the post. Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, who is also the NWSL Golden Glove winner, made a bag full of saves throughout the match, including a second-half dive where she tipped a top corner-bound strike over the bar. Sheridan was called upon again in the last play of the match where she caught the ball to seal out Canada’s win.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 BRAZIL 2 v 1 CANADA QUÍMICA ARENA, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL ATTENDANCE 19,589

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National team lost to Brazil 2:1 at the Vila Belmiro Stadium in their second international friendly of the November break. Brazil’s Beatriz Zaneratto Joao opened the scoring in the 41st minute before Ashley Lawrence equalized from the Penalty Spot in the 60th minute. Ana Vitoria Angélica Araujo won it late for Brazil on a disgruntled corner in the 91st minute. Both teams played with attack-minded tactics, which rarely disappoint on the international stage. This match was nothing short of exciting, similar to the previous matchup between the two Nations on Nov. 11. However, it was the home side that found momentum first. Brazilian forward Debinha found herself in a dangerous position in the 16th minute. Less than 11-yards away from Canada’s goal, Debinha fired a shot that would have tested Kailen Sheridan until midfielder Jessie Fleming came rushing in with a sliding tackle that sent the ball wide. Moments later, Canadian midfielder Quinn found themselves in a one-on-one position on the left side of the box. She deflected a cross into the hands of Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. The next set of minutes saw Canadian defender Shelina Zadorsky block two shots, one of which was a crucial sliding tackle within the box. Canada’s defensive efforts matched Brazil’s attack, but a controversial moment right before the half would reward Brazil. Fleming was tackled by Brazil’s Israel Ferraz in the 41st minute. The ref ruled that the tackle was clean but Canada was caught out of position and in a twoon-one situation with Ferraz sprinting towards a large amount of space ahead of her. Canadian Defender Ashely Lawrence hustled back but Ferraz slipped the ball through for her teammate Zaneratto Joao who slotted her shot into the bottom left corner. Despite being down a goal, Canada came out into the second half pushing their back line higher and maintained more possession in Brazil’s half. They were determined to equalize the scoring. It paid off when midfielder Quinn crossed the ball to Lawrence at the top-left of the 18-yard box. Lawrence controlled the bouncing ball with her thigh before flicking it up into the air and off the hand of a Brazilian player. After a penalty was awarded for Canada, Lawrence stepped up and put her shot into the side-netting. Moments later, Canada would begin a series of attacks. Forward Jordyn Huitema came close on a Canadian Counter attack, but her chance was cleared for a corner. On the corner, Fleming whipped in an outswinger for Buchannan, who had her header deflected out for another corner. Fleming then whipped in a curling inswinger that found Evelyne Viens’ head. Viens’ header was bound for the top corner but Brazil Keeper Leite Lorena tipped it onto the bar with a leaping save. It was 10 minutes of Canadian pressure and the standard refreshment break came in time to cool it off. In the final minutes of the game, a Brazilian corner was headed toward the goal by Gabriela Nunes da Silva. Canadian substitute defender Sura Yekka cleared the ball off the line but not out of danger. The ball fell to Araujo who sliced a shot past Sheridan’s fingertips, who was still down on the grass from the original shot, and into the goal.

Canada will walk away with a win and a loss in the November campaign.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2022 BAHRAIN 2 v 2 CANADA

AL-KHALIFA STADIUM, MANAMA, BAHRAIN ATTENDANCE NOT ANNOUNCED

Missing some of its top talent, Canada tied Bahrain 2-2 on an 81st-minute own goal in a World Cup warmup match Friday. After Bahrain pulled ahead in the 65th minute from the penalty spot, it paid for failing to clear the ball. Substitute Zachary Brault-Guillard sent in a low cross that bounced off forward Lucas Cavallini's leg and a defender, deflecting into the Bahrain goal. It was eventually ruled an own goal, rather than No. 18 for the burly Vancouver Whitecap striker, who did seem to do a little dance to get his leg onto the ball. But it then hit the defender next to him. Ismael Kone scored Canada's opening goal. "A very good test and the sort of test we needed," Canada coach John Herdman said. "We knew Bahrain were going to treat this like a big match and they brought a real intensity. It's what we needed to just shake off some of the rust and for me to be able to assess some players at this level. I think what we learned is there were some good moments but there's still some work to be done. We've got to get the team into some cohesion and get them back into that match rhythm." The Canadian men's national team tied Bahrain 2-2 in a friendly match with the FIFA World Cup on the horizon. Herdman will soon be getting reinforcements. He did not have his full squad for the Bahrain game, with almost all of his European-based players still in action with their clubs. They will be released after weekend matches with those selected to the World Cup roster heading to Doha. Bahrain showed a physical side early with Mark-Anthony Kaye felled in a tough tackle. Ismael Kone opened the scoring in the sixth minute with his first goal for Canada, in his fourth appearance. Kamal Miller, with a long ball from deep in Canada territory, found his CF Montreal teammate, who used a deft first touch to race past a defender and steam toward goal without interference, beating Bahrain 'keeper Ebrahim Lutfalla with a high shot. A Cavallini tap-in goal in the 12th minute, off a seeing-eye pass from Jonathan Osorio, was flagged offside. Bahrain answered in the 14th minute against the run of play through Mahdi Haumaidan. After Kaye failed to corral a pass at the back, Yusuf beat Joel Waterman and found Haumaidan in the penalty box. His quick shot eluded a sliding Johnston and St. Clair, who got his right hand to the ball but could not keep it out. Yusuf's deflected shot hit the goalpost in the 16th minute after another Canadian turnover. And Yusuf, who plays his club football for Indonesia's Persija Jakarta, forced a diving save from St. Clair with a hard shot in the 32nd minute. The two teams each put two shots on target in the first half with the Canadians having 62 per cent possession. Kone should have had a second goal in the 50th minute but his header flashed wide of an empty goal after a fine cross by Raheem Edwards, who beat his man to deliver it. Richie Laryea found Osorio at the far post minutes later but a Bahrain defender prevented a shot. St. Clair had no problem palming away an on-target free kick from Marhoon in the 62nd minute but looked shaky on the ensuing corner. The Canadian starting 11 had a combined cap count of 293, led by Piette (65) and, Osorio (56). Fraser, Brault-Guillard, Ayo Akinola, Jayden Nelson, Shaffelburg and Lukas MacNaughton, making his Canadian debut, came on in the second half. Miller, who seemed to be favouring a leg, came off in the 71st minute. For Akinola, it was a first appearance for Canada since injuring his knee against the U.S. in July 2021 at the Gold Cup. Joel Waterman, making his Canada debut, started in his place with Samuel Piette leading the team out.

For the Bahrain camp and match, Herdman was relying on MLS talent along with midfielder Liam Fraser who plays in Belgium for KMSK Deinze. Eighteen of the 21 players in camp were from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver (including Toronto winger Jacob Shaffelburg on loan to Nashville SC). TFC and Vancouver players in camp had not seen game action since the Oct. 9 MLS regularseason finale. Montreal exited the playoffs Oct. 23 in a 3-1 loss to New York City FC in the Eastern Conference semifinal. For some, the hiatus was even longer. Prior to Friday, Osorio had played just 18 minutes since Aug. 20 due to post-concussion syndrome. He earned his 56th cap for Canada on Friday and looked sharp, playing the full match. The Bahrain game was also a milestone for both Herdman and Johnston. Herdman marked his 46th international "A" match in charge of the Canadian men, moving him into second place on the all-time list past Stephen Hart with a record of (31-10-5). Bob Lenarduzzi holds the record at 62. Johnston played in his 27th consecutive match for Canada, tying the record held by former captain Bruce Wilson. The 24-year-old from Aurora, Ont., made his debut against Bermuda in March 2021 in Canada's opening World Cup qualifying game and has been a fixture ever since. Johnston, who earned his 29th cap Friday, has not missed a Canada outing since a game in Aruba in June 2021.St. Clair, earning just his second cap, started in goal behind a back three of Waterman, Johnston and Miller and a midfield of Richie Laryea, Piette, Kaye and Raheem Edwards with Osorio and Kone playing behind Cavallini.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022 CANADA 2 v 1 JAPAN

AL MAKTOUM STADIUM, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ATTENDANCE NOT ANNOUNCED

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team triumphed over Japan 2:1 in an international friendly in Dubai at the Al Maktoum Stadium. This contest marks the third match of all-time between the two nations and Canada’s first win against Japan, while the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar was just days away. Japan opened the scoring with a goal in the ninth minute from Yuki Soma before Canada’s Steven Vitória answered back with a goal from close range in the 20th minute. The match was heading towards a one-all draw until Lucas Cavallini stepped up to score a Panenka from the penalty spot in the 94th minute. Canadian Winger and team veteran Junior Hoilett was awarded player of the match after playing the entire game and a major part in Canada’s attack. All throughout the night, Hoilett was whipping in crosses and curling corners that proved difficult for Japan to handle. A 20th-minute corner saw Hoilett swing in a ball that missed everyone at the front post but found a wide-open Atiba Hutchinson at the penalty spot. Hutchinson’s takedown set Steven Vitoria who scored from around the 6-yard box to level the scoring at one-all. A 40th-minute inswinging free-kick from Hoilett curled to the back-post to find a darting Kamal Miller. The curling ball tempted the Japanese goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda but it was his defender who came to the rescue and headed the ball out for a corner just before Miller could get his head on it. Despite Canada’s threatening presence from set-pieces, Japan were the team that started on the front foot. Playing a high press, the Japanese forced Canada to play long balls from their defensive line to their forward line. Canada started with a high defensive block accompanied by their high backline to start the game. This prevented Japan from playing through the midfield. However, the creative runs from the Japanese forwards allowed them to take advantage of the space behind the Canadian defenders, which was the cause of the match’s opening goal. Canada started to find momentum around the 30-minute mark. Now aware of Japan's pressing tactics, Canada played through Japan’s midfield gaps and were able to find space in the attacking-third to operate possession. Reluctant to sit back and defend, Canada adopted a press of their own and looked to play possession in Japan’s half. Jonathan David often picked up the ball in the final-third, outside the 18-yard box. In the 33rd minute, David shut down a Japanese counterattack by winning the ball in the attacking-third. He turned around and found himself with yards of space before firing a left-footed shot that just missed the target. The second half saw a similar start to the first. Japan looked to the press but Canada was readily prepared. Taking the lessons they learned from the first half, Canada played out of Japan’s press with long balls to pacey players like Tajon Buchanan and David. Canada’s wingers proved too much for the Japanese fullbacks to handle. Midway through the second half, Hoilett held off two Japanese players before spinning both of them and whipping in a cross that was cleared by the Japanese centrebacks. Substitute Richie Laryea took Japanese defender Miki Yamane down the wing for a run before drawing a foul deep in Japan’s half. The introduction of Mark-Anthony Kaye in the 60th minute was a positive one. Kaye sat deep as a defensive midfielder and pulled the strings in the middle- and defensive-third, often dropping back to pick up the ball from goalkeeper Milan Borjan or the two Canadian centrebacks. Canada came knocking on Japan’s door towards the end of the game. Several chances were cleared by the Japanese defence, many of which came from Hoilett crosses. However, the last attack from Canada saw Richie Laryea sneak away from his defender before running onto a pass inside Japan’s 18-yard box. Laryea was taken down and Canada was awarded a penalty. Cavallini stepped up with confidence to place his cheeky chip-shot, commonly known as a Panenka, straight down the middle of the net.

Canada will face Nigeria, Republic of Ireland and Australia in the group phase of the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™. Drawn into Group B at the Official Draw on Saturday 22 October, this will mark Canada’s eighth consecutive participation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the world’s largest single-sport, women’s sporting event which expands to 32 nations in 2023.

“We’re excited and getting host nation Australia is going to bring an incredible atmosphere to our group finale at the FIFA World Cup,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Head Coach. “This FIFA World Cup is going to be bigger and better than ever before based on where the women’s game is and based on the number of nations involved. With matches against Australia, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland, there won’t be an easy match in our group.” Following Saturday’s Official Draw in Auckland, New Zealand, Canada’s schedule begins with Nigeria on Friday 21 July in Melbourne, continues with Republic of Ireland on Wednesday 26 July in Perth, and finishes with Australia on Monday 31 July in Melbourne. Matches will be broadcast live on TSN and RDS. Fans will find extended coverage for the matches across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANWNT. Following the group phase, the Round of 16 will be Monday 7 August in Brisbane or Sydney, the Quarter-Finals will be Saturday 12 August in Brisbane or Sydney, the Semi-Finals will be Wednesday 16 August in Sydney, and the Final will be Sunday 20 August also in Sydney. The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, which will be held from 20 July 2023 to 20 August 2023, will see 30 nations join the hosts Australia and New Zealand who have already qualified for the biggest tournament in the world. The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be a tournament of firsts. In 2023, fans will see 32 nations playing 64 matches across nine host cities in Australia and New Zealand for the first time in Women’s World Cup history.

Canada will return to the SheBelieves Cup in February 2023 as they face top-ranked teams USA, Brazil and Japan in the annual fournations tournament in the United States. The round-robin tournament will mark the start to Canada’s international season as they continue their preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™. “We are excited to be participating in what we know is a great tournament with large crowds, fantastic tier-one opposition and travel, all things that can replicate the feeling and experiences of a FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach.

Across the three match days, Canada will face USA on 16 February in Orlando, Florida, Brazil on 19 February in Nashville, Tennessee, and Japan on 22 February in Frisco, Texas. Fans will find extended coverage for the matches across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANWNT. “To have such a good test to start the year at the SheBelieves Cup will be critical for us and it will give us a chance to test the roster in a tournament setting,” said Priestman. “We know what all three opponents can do on their day, so this is an exciting challenge and opportunity for us.” This will mark the second time in three years that Canada takes part in the SheBelieves Cup. Canada previously took part in the tournament in February 2021 in the buildup to the Olympic Games, with champion coach Bev Priestman making her international debut as Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team’s Head Coach. In 2021, Canada lost 0:1 to USA, won 1:0 over Argentina, then lost 0:2 to Brazil.

Ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July and August, there are few remaining opportunities for participating nations to prepare through international competition. Beyond the three-match window in February, there remains just a two-match window in April and a two-match window in June, with details on those camps to be announced in the new year.

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team was named 2022 The Canadian Press Team of the Year after returning to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years. Canada qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and finished first overall in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. “It’s a huge honour,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “I think it’s a testament to the sacrifices (and) the hard work that’s gone in over a couple of decades behind the scenes — the struggles for many of the past players and staff and coaches, for the organisation, I think for everyone.” This marks just the third time that a soccer team has been voted The Canadian Press Team of the Year and the first time that soccer teams have won the award in back-to-back years. Before the Men’s National Team in 2022, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team won The Canadian Press Team of the Year award in both 2012 (Olympic Bronze in London) and 2021 (Olympic Gold in Japan). Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team finished first in the 2022 national poll with 23 of 48 votes while Tennis Canada’s Davis Cup Team finished second with 19 votes and Hockey Canada’s Women’s National Team finished third with five votes. Earlier this week, Tennis Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime was voted The Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year while Marie-Philip Poulin was voted The Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year. Canada Soccer’s Alphonso Davies finished second in voting by Auger-Aliassime for the athlete award.

“This group of players and staff over the last four years have really binded together and gone through probably the most difficult qualifying campaign through a COVID window,” said Herdman. “Then we were able to step onto the world stage and inspire people through our performances, let people know we’re a football nation and that we can score goals at a World Cup against good teams.”

Canada’s squad at the FIFA World Cup featured captain Atiba Hutchinson along with teammates Samuel Adekugbe, Milan Borjan Tajon Buchanan, Lucas Cavallini, Derek Cornelius, Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies, Stephen Eustáquio, Liam Fraser, Junior Hoilett, Alistair Johnston, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Ismaël Koné, Cyle Larin, Richie Laryea, Liam Millar, Kamal Miller, Jonathan Osorio, James Pantemis, Samuel Piette, Dayne St. Clair, Iké Ugbo, Steven Vitória, Joel Waterman, and David Wotherspoon. Unavailable for Qatar through injuries but part of the 2022 squad that finished first in Concacaf were Maxime Crépeau, Doneil Henry and Scott Kennedy. “I think a lot of people expected Canada to be a passive team that would defend to counterattack.” said Herdman. “There was a refreshing excitement about the way Canada set out to play at this World Cup. I think that’s really helped our players, that we were able to attack in a way that we got see our attacking qualities.” As for coach Herdman, he is just the eighth team sport coach to lead his team to The Canadian Press Team of Year award more than once. He is also just the second coach after Scotty Bowman to lead two different senior teams to the award: while Bowman was in charge of both Hockey Canada’s 1976 Canada Cup team and the Montréal Canadiens’ 1977 and 1978 Stanley Cup teams, Herdman has been in charge of both Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team in 2012 and the Men’s National Team in 2022. Herdman’s teams were also Postmedia Canadian Team of the Year award winners in both 2012 and 2016 (back-to-back Olympic Bronze Medals). Looking ahead to the next four-year cycle, Canada will compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026 as one of three co-hosts alongside Mexico and USA. The new journey starts in March 2023 with the continuation of 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League and a potential berth at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, the region’s biennial confederation championship.