Canada Soccer is fielding a youthful squad to compete at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016 running November 13 through December 3, 2016. In Papua New Guinea, Canada’s top female youth players will test themselves against the best in the world, facing two confederation champions in the group stage. Canada plays Spain in its opening match Nov. 13, followed by African champions, Nigeria, Nov. 16, and Asian Champions, Japan, Nov. 20. 

All told, 11 Ontario players, including 7 who have League1 Ontario experience, have been called into the squad 

Canada Soccer U-23 Excel Programme Director and U-20 coach Danny Worthington, along with the head of women’s soccer programming John Herdman, have been working towards building player capabilities with a motto that transcends all youth levels: “More Sinclairs, more often.” It is a philosophy that promotes clinical development over titles, with the aim of creating world-class footballers tracking towards Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team.

“We have selected a young group of players with varying degrees of tournament expertise,” said coach Worthington. “The focus will be on our identity first, how we bring alive our individual strengths to put together consistent performances under pressure against some World-Class talent, and go out there and impose our game on our opponents. We know we will be facing some of the best young players in the world, so we are preparing our team to execute a system of play that helps us develop technically under the pressure from world-class talent.”

Canada’s National Excel system is focused on developing players through a periodized four to six year plan, culminating in senior international play. The curriculum focuses on individual development augmented by specialised expertise acquired in major international tournaments, all with an aim at continuing player’s holistic development towards the Women’s National Team.

“At this stage in our player’s development, we are focusing on advancing individual skills through a curriculum based on key technical and tactical outcomes, within the overall Canadian style of soccer,” said Worthington. This will be invaluable experience for our young players as we monitor and assess their performances in a tournament setting, against the world’s best as they continue learn and grow on their journey as an international footballer, and for some on route to France 2019, and Tokyo 2020.”

Canada has reached the knockout stages of the preeminent women’s youth football tournament three times, placing second in the inaugural competition hosted in Canada in 2002, and reaching the quarterfinals in Chile 2008 and again in Canada in 2014.

Papua New Guinea 2016 represents an opportunity for Canada Soccer to build on the progress of recent years, developing the tournament capabilities of young players and solidifying a style of play that has seen Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team earn back-to-back Olympic medals and a sixth place finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.

"We look forward to going into Papua New Guinea 2016 and playing against the best teams in the world. We won't change our philosophy: Identity first. We are going to play the way we want to play because it is the right way and it is the right way for Canada," said Worthington.

Canada Soccer’s U-20 women’s team will prepare for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016 with a camp in Australia running November 1-9, and will face France in a closed door international friendly match 8 November.

Canada Soccer Women’s National EXCEL Program, presented by Bell, brings together the best with the best at the national youth level. Operating across the U-14 to U-17 and U-18 to U-23 age groups, the program is designed to deliver an aligned talent structure and system that progresses more top players to Canada’s Women’s National Team.

Canada Soccer U-20 Women roster:

GK - Rylee Foster, 18, West Virginia University, from Cambridge, ON | League 1 Ontario: Vaughan 2015 starting goalkeeper
GK - Patricia Koutoulas, 19, Miami University, from Toronto, ON | League1 Ontario: Aurora 2016)
GK - Lysianne Proulx, 17, AS Varennes & Québec Soccer REX, from Boucherville, QC
D - Victoria Pickett, 20, University of Wisconsin–Madison, from Barrie, ON
D - Bianca St-Georges, 18, West Virginia University, from St-Charles-Borommée, QC
D - Mika Richards, 19, York University, from Brampton, ON | League1 Ontario: Vaughan 2015-2016, 2016 Mid-Season All-Star First XI
D - Sura Yekka , 19, University of Michigan, from Mississauga, ON
D - Marike St-Pierre Mousset, 19, Ohio State University, from Montréal, QC
D - Emma Regan, 16, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex, from Burnaby, BC
D - Hannah Taylor, 17, Eastside FC, from Edmonds, WA
M - Ashley Moreira, 20, University of Pittsburgh, from Maple, ON
M - Sarah Taylor, 20, Boise State University, from South Shore, NS
M - Sarah Feola, 18, University of Louisville, from Montréal, QC
M - Sarah Stratigakis, 17, Unionville-Milliken SC, from Woodbridge, ON | League1 Ontario: Aurora 2016, 2016 Mid-Season All-Star First XI
M - Anyssa Ibrahim, 17, AS Varennes & Québec Soccer REX, from Repentigny, QC
M - Vital Kats, 16, Scarborough GS United, from Toronto, ON | League1 Ontario: Pro-Stars 2015, Aurora 2016)
F - Alex Lamontagne, 20, Syracuse University, from Whitby, ON | League1 Ontario: Durham 2015-2016, 2015 Year End All-Star First XI
F - Marie Levasseur, 19, University of Memphis, from Stoneham, QC
F - Gabrielle Carle, 18, Dynamo Québec & Québec Soccer REX, from Lévis, QC
F - Deanne Rose, 17, Scarborough GS United, from Alliston, ON
F - Lauren Raimondo, 17, Unionville-Milliken SC, from Niagara Falls, ON | League1 Ontario: Aurora 2016, 4 Goals