Canada Soccer – Canada aiming to claim quarter-final berth in final Jordan 2016 group stage match

6 October 2016

Canada will be looking to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 when they face Venezuela Friday, 7 October in Amman, Jordan. The match will be broadcast in Canada on TSN1, TSN4 and RDS2 (12:00 ET / 9:00 ET).

Canada presently sit atop Group B after obtaining a victory 3:2 against Cameroon on 30 September and a draw 1:1 with Germany on 3 October.

“It will be a tough match, and very different from the previous two,” said Canada Soccer National EXCEL U-14 to U-17 Director and U-17 Coach Bev Humphries-Priestman. “We know that Venezuela will fight until the end. It’s a game where there won’t be a lot of structure, we will have to be proactive and anticipate what’s coming next.”

Canada won’t be taking anything for granted going into Friday’s match. After all, it was Venezuela that knocked Canada out at the quarter-final stage of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2014. But Bev Humphries-Priestman is confident the team is ready to take on this task, especially after the positive results in the first two matches of the 2016 group phase.

“The last two games showed great character in our team, connecting the team even more,” said Humphries-Priestman. “We will need that in a game like tomorrow. It’s going to take team work and it’s going to take commitment, so we can take our gritty performances forward and take it to another level.”

A win or a draw against Venezuela Friday will clinch Canada’s spot in the quarter-finals, while a loss against the South American side could still see Canada progress, with a second place Germany facing a pointless Cameroon in its final group stage match. Germany and Canada each have four points going into Friday’s matches, with Canada ahead on goals scored. Venezuela has three points. The two top team of each group advance.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 runs 30 September to 21 October, with 32 matches to be played at four stadiums in Amman, Irbid, and Al Zarqa. From 16 nations, eight will advance from the group phase to reach the quarter-finals, where Canada have landed three times in four previous trips.

Canada has qualified for every iteration of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and has made it to the quarter-finals, knock out stage of the competition in three of the four tournaments held to date.

Canada’s strength in women’s football is present at all levels. Canada is one of four countries in the world to have qualified for twelve or more FIFA women’s youth tournaments since 2002, including six trips to the quarter-finals and one silver medal at Canada 2002. Canada have also won four CONCACAF women’s youth championships, with titles at the U-20 level (2004, 2008), U-17 level (2010), and U-15 level (2014).

From 2014-2016, Canada is the only nation in the world with top eight results in all women’s international competitions including the most recent FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Rio Olympics.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s 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 delivers an aligned talent structure and system that progresses more top players to Canada’s Women’s National Team.

About Canada Soccer

Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at canadasoccer.com

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