Canada Soccer has released its Women’s National Team roster for the upcoming 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship that serves as the qualification tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
Included on the 20-player roster is striker Jordyn Huitema from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX program, in partnership with BC Soccer, as well as midfielder Julia Grosso and fullback Emma Regan, who recently graduated from the program and are in the midst of their freshmen seasons at the University of Texas.
Huitema, 17, Grosso, 18, and Regan, 18, are the three youngest players on the roster.
Canada will play its group stage matches at H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas, beginning with its opening match against Jamaica on Friday, October 5 at 4:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. local), followed by Canada v Cuba on Monday, October 8 at 4:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. local) and Canada v Costa Rica on Thursday, October 11 at 6 p.m. PT (8 p.m. local).
Following the group stage, all matches will be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Canada Soccer’s roster is a strong blend of youth and experience, with captain Christine Sinclair leading a group that has a total of 1,331 Women’s National Team appearances for an average of just over 66 appearances per player, including four players with over 100 appearances and five teenagers.
In bringing in the core of Canada’s 2016 Rio Olympic Bronze Medal winning team, along with Canada’s top young players, Canada Soccer Head Coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller is continuing to build the depth of the squad with an eye on having the best possible line up should Canada qualify for France 2019.
“We are very happy with the players we have selected for the tournament and we think this is the group that will give us the best shot at qualifying for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, and that is our primary objective for this tournament,” said Head Coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller. “We’ve been really impressed with how this group has been playing together throughout 2018 and how they are continually working to improve both on and off the field.”
The top three teams in the tournament will automatically qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, with an additional opportunity for the fourth-place team to qualify through a playoff with Argentina of CONMEBOL.
The winners of the two semifinal matches on Sunday, October 14 will automatically qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, as well as the winners of the third-place match scheduled for Wednesday, October 17. The final taking place on Wednesday, October 17 will determine the continental champions.
Canada Soccer 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship Roster
Head Coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller
GK – Stephanie Labbe, age 31, from Stony Plain, AB/ Lejonflocken Linköping (Damallsvenskan)
GK – Erin McLeod, age 35, from St. Albert, AB/ SC Sand (Frauen-Bundesliga)
FB - Lindsay Agnew, age 23, from Kingston, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
FB - Allysha Chapman, age 29, from Courtice, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
FB – Ashley Lawrence, age 23, from Caledon, ON/Paris Saint Germain (Division 1 Féminine France)
FB – Emma Regan, age 18, from Burnaby, BC/ The University of Texas at Austin (NCAA)
CB - Kadeisha Buchanan, age 22, from Brampton, ON/ Olympique Lyonnais (Division 1 Féminine France)
CB – Shelina Zadorsky, age 25, from London, ON/ Orlando Pride (NWSL)
M/CB – Rebecca Quinn, age 23, from Toronto, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
M - Jessie Fleming, age 20, from London, ON/UCLA (NCAA)
M – Julia Grosso, age 18, from Vancouver, BC / The University of Texas at Austin (NCAA)
M – Diana Matheson, age 34, from Oakville, ON/Utah Royals FC (NWSL)
M- Sophie Schmidt, age 30, from Abbotsford, BC/ FFC Frankfurt (Frauen-Bundesliga)
M- Gabrielle Carle, age 19, from Levis, QC/ Florida State University (NCAA)
F- Jordyn Huitema, age 17, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)
F – Adriana Leon, age 25, from King City, ON/ Seattle Reign FC (NWSL)
F – Nichelle Prince, age 23, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
F – Deanne Rose, age 19, from Alliston, ON/ University of Florida Gators (NCAA)
F – Christine Sinclair ( C ), age 35, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns (NWSL)
F - Janine Beckie, age 24, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Manchester City (FA Women's Super League)
