Canada Soccer – Canada’s Women’s National U-17 Team will head to China to play in the CFA International Women’s Youth Football Tournament 2016 Weifang as Canada Soccer National EXCEL 14-17 Director and U-17 Coach Bev Priestman fine-tunes the squad ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016.

Canada will join hosts China PR, reining U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions Japan, and New Zealand in the four-nation international tournament taking place from 12 – 16 July at Weifang Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Weifang, Shandong province, China.

The squad selected for the tournament brings together a mixture of talent, some of whom have had the opportunity to experience youth FIFA World Cups, and some new recruits who have been identified since Canada qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 through CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship Grenada in March.

“This tournament is our last opportunity to assess this group in a competition format ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in September, so it is an important test and great opportunity to experience tough matches against some very good opponents,” said Priestman. “We are playing some strong teams that will push us to our limits which is critical for the development of individuals as well as the team.”

Canada is in the final stages of preparations for the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 running 30 September to 21 October, with the 32 matches to be played at four stadiums in Amman, Ibid, and Al Zarqa. Canada will face Cameroon on 30 September in Irbid, Germany on 3 October in Amman, and Venezuela on 7 October again in Amman in the group phase.

“We are going into Jordan with the aim of getting as many games for these players in their journey as possible, which means you have to get out of the group stage to push beyond the guaranteed three games,” said Priestman. “We are really motivated to push these girls to the next level of development on their Women’s National Team journey and this tournament will be a key stepping stone for young talented players to move up the system with their hard work.”

Canada’s CFA International Women’s Youth Football Tournament 2016 Weifang Roster:

F – Mikayla Dayes, 16, from Brampton, ON (Woodbridge SC)
F – Jayde Riviere, 15, from Pickering, ON (Markham SC)
F – Lauren Raimondo, 17, from St. Catharines, ON (Unionville-Milliken SC)
F – Jordyn Huitema, 15, from Chilliwack, BC (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex)
F – Florence Laroche, 16, from Laval, QC (Lakeshore SC)
M – Sarah Stratigakis, 17, from Woodbridge, ON (Aurora United SC)
M – Nahida Baalbaki, 16, from Laval, QC (Lakeshore SC)
M – Vital Kats, 16, from Toronto, ON (Scarborough GS United)
M – Anyssa Ibrahim, 17, from Repentigny, QC (AS Varennes)
M – Kaela Hansen, 16, from Burnaby, BC (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex)
M – Marika Guay, 16, from Châteauguay, QC (Lakeshore SC)
D – Julia Grosso, 15, from Vancouver, BC (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex)
D – Emma Regan, 16, from Burnaby, BC (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex)
D – Nadege L’Esperance, 17, from Candiac, QC (Lakeshore SC)
D – Ashley Cathro, 16, Victoria, BC (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite BC Soccer Rex)
D – Samantha Chang, 15, from Mississauga, ON (Unionville-Milliken SC)
D – Hannah Taylor, 17, (Eastside FC)
D – Maya Antoine, 14, from Vaughan, ON (Vaughan SC)
GK – Lysianne Proulx, 17, Boucherville, QC (AS Varennes)
GK – Marissa Zucchetto, 17, Mississauga, ON (Aurora United SC)

Canada will kick of the CFA International Women’s Youth Football Tournament 2016 against Japan on 12 July, before New Zealand on 14 July and China PR on 16 July.

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

For our most recent photographs, please visit our Flickr Photostream. 

Media Contacts