Canada Soccer has named the 21 players selected to represent Canada at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018 taking place 13 November to 1 December. Canada’s team for the most prestigious women’s soccer event for players born before 2004 will be coached by two-time Olympic Bronze Medalist and long-time Canada Soccer Women’s National Team former player Rhian Wilkinson.
Drawn into Group D, Canada will face off against Colombia, South Korea and Spain at Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo. Canada’s first game is against Colombia on 14 November at 19:00 local (18:00 ET/15:00 PT), followed by Korea Republic on 17 November at 16:00 local (15:00 ET/12:00 PT), and Spain on 21 November at 14:00 local (13:00 ET/10:00 PT). The knockout stage of the preeminent youth tournament begins 24 November with the final slated for 1 December.
“I am really excited to have this opportunity for Canada Soccer, and I value the experience just like I did every time I pulled on that jersey with the maple leaf,” Wilkinson said ahead of traveling to Uruguay. “I really believe in this U-17 team and I am looking forward to working with them to help them both perform on the pitch and learn from the experience to better prepare them for a career with Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team.”
Wilkinson, who began coaching within Canada Soccer’s Women’s Program in 2014 while still an active player, retired from international action as a full back in February 2017. In assuming coaching duties for this competition, Wilkinson is bringing to the squad a wealth of experience both on and off the pitch.
“We are excited for the team and Rhian,” said Kenneth Heiner-Moller, Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Head Coach and Women’s EXCEL Program Director. “Canada Soccer’s focus for our young players continues to be on development through experience. Our nationally aligned talent development system ensures a progression for players towards the Women’s National Team and the top level of women’s soccer.”
Canada’s squad includes three goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders and seven forwards. Of the 21 players traveling to Uruguay, four players have already been called up for Women’s National Team action, namely Jordyn Huitema, Jayde Riviere, Maya Antoine, and Ariel Young.
“To play Colombia, Spain, and South Korea in Uruguay will expose these players to a wide range of different styles and aspects of the game which will further aid their development. But Canada is also planning to compete, which is which is a huge part of growing as a team and as a player. Going to a World Cup, is about performance – but performance through the way Canada plays and adapts,” said Heiner-Moller
Canada is one of only six nations to have qualified for every edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since it was launched in 2008, alongside Germany, Ghana, Japan, New Zealand and North Korea.
Canada reached the quarterfinals in 2008, 2012 and 2014. Canada earned its spot in the competition after a dramatic 2-1 win over Haiti in the match for third place at the CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship in Florida earlier this year, with striker Andersen Williams scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute in the match for third place.
Canada Soccer Roster for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018 (By number, position, name, year born, hometown, club)
#1 Goalkeeper Anna Karpenko, 2002, Richmond Hill, ON/Ontario REX
#2 Forward Jayde Riviere, 2001, Markham, ON/Ontario REX
#3 Defender Julianne Vallerand, 2001, Terrebonne, QC /Quebec REX & AS Varennes
#4 Defender Sonia Walk, 2002, Toronto, ON/Ontario REX
#5 Defender Maya Antoine, 2001, Vaughan, ON/Ontario REX
#6 Defender Ariel Young, 2001, Ottawa, ON/Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX
#7 Forward Serita Thurton, 2002, Ajax, ON/Ontario REX
#8 Midfielder Caitlin Shaw, 2001, Vancouver, BC/Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX
#9 Forward Jordyn Huitema, 2001, Chilliwack, BC/Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX
#10 Forward Oluwateniola (Teni) Akindoju, 2001, Halifax, NS/Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX
#11 Forward Kaila Novak, 2002, St. Thomas, ON/Ontario REX
#12 Midfielder Lara Kazandjian, 2002, Kirkland, QC/Quebec REX & Lakeshore SC
#13 Defender Léonie Portelance, 2001, Brossard, QC/ Quebec REX & AS Varennes
#14 Midfielder Wayny-Natasha Balata Nguenign, 2001, Montreal, QC/ Quebec REX & Lakeshore SC
#15 Midfielder Jazmine Wilkinson, 2002, Nanaimo, BC /Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX
#16 Defender Jade Rose, 2003, Markham, ON/Ontario REX
#17 Forward Andersen Williams, 2002, Calgary, AB/Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX
#18 Goalkeeper Sophie Guilmette 2001, Montréal, QC /Quebec REX & Lakeshore SC
#19 Defender Isabella Hanisch, 2002, Ottawa, ON/ Ontario REX
#20 Forward Jessica De Filippo, 2001, Montréal, QC /Quebec REX & Lakeshore SC
#21 Goalkeeper Kayza Massey, 2001, Ottawa, ON/Ontario REX
About Canada Soccer’s Women’s National EXCEL Program
Canada Soccer Women’s National EXCEL Program brings together the best with the best at the national youth level, throughout the year. Operating across the U-14 to U-20 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. Major competitions are viewed as staging posts to assess development and allow for the development of the Women’s EXCEL Team Playing Model and tournament processes and expertise which will ultimately prepare players to progress up the system.
Additionally, the most talented U-14 to U-18 players are offered a specialised daily training environment through the Regional EXCEL Program, which deliver Canada Soccer’s national curriculum year-round through a two-tiered talent system, with three Super Centres streamlining Canada’s National EXCEL Players into training environments in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec from smaller provincial licenced Centres.