Stoney names 24-player squad for April FIFA series in Brazil
Canada Soccer has announced the 24 players selected to represent Canada’s Women’s National Team (CANWNT) during the April FIFA window, where Canada will compete in the FIFA Series 2026™ in Cuiabá, Brazil from 9 -18 April.
The FIFA Series brings together national teams from across the six confederations, creating international matchups that are less frequently seen in the global calendar while supporting the continued growth of the game worldwide. The 2026 edition features 50 nations across 13 groups, with competition hosted in 12 countries. Matches that end in a draw will proceed directly to a penalty shootout, with no extra time played. In each group, one Member Association will emerge as the group winner. This participant-led format, endorsed by FIFA, is designed to enhance the competitive nature of the matches, increase fan engagement, and provide meaningful international opportunities for all teams involved.
Canada, currently ranked ninth in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, will face Zambia (66), Korea Republic (19), and hosts Brazil (8) in group play. All matches will be played at Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá. Canada opens against Zambia on 11 April (15:00 local / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), meets Korea Republic on 14 April (15:00 local / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), and concludes the series against Brazil on 18 April (21:30 local / 21:30 ET / 18:30 PT).
Head Coach Casey Stoney has selected a group that builds on the continuity established earlier this year, with 18 players returning from the SheBelieves Cup. Most notably, veteran defender Kadeisha Buchanan returns to the squad for the first time since October 2024 following a long-term injury, bringing more than 150 caps of international experience. The team also welcomes back goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, defender Jayde Riviere, and forward Olivia Smith, all returning after missing the February window due to injury.
“Being in Brazil, with the 2027 Women’s World Cup set to be played here, makes this an especially valuable window for us. It’s a chance to step out of our comfort zone, adapt to the conditions, and take important lessons as a team. This competition will test us in three very different ways against three distinct opponents, and we’re looking forward to seeing how we respond while continuing to build the team we want to be.”
– Casey Stoney, Women’s National Team Head Coach
Canada has a long-standing history against Brazil, with 32 previous meetings between the two nations. The record stands evenly balanced, with 11 wins, 10 draws, and 11 losses. Their most recent encounter came at the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, where Canada earned a draw before securing the win in a penalty shootout.
Against Korea Republic, Canada holds an 8-1-1 record since their first meeting in 2000. The two sides last met in December 2024, when Canada recorded a 5-1 victory in Murcia, Spain.
The match against Zambia will mark the first meeting between the two nations.
CANWNT SQUAD
Canada’s three goalkeepers selected for this series are Melissa Dagenais of Ottawa Rapid FC, Sabrina D’Angelo from Aston Villa Women, and Kailen Sheridan of North Carolina Courage.
The defenders selected are Kadeisha Buchanan from Chelsea FC, Sydney Collins and Brooklyn Courtnall of Bay FC,Vanessa Gilles of FC Bayern Munich, Ashley Lawrence of OL Lyonnes, Jayde Riviere of Manchester United WFC, Jade Rose of Manchester City WFC, and Janine Sonis of Denver Summit FC.
In midfield, the roster features Marie-Yasmine Alidou and Jessie Fleming of Portland Thorns FC, Simi Awujo of Manchester United WFC, Julia Grosso of Chicago Red Stars, Kaylee Hunter of AFC Toronto, Emma Reganof Denver Summit FC, and Carly Wickenheiser of North Carolina Courage.
Rounding out the squad are forwards Annabelle Chukwu of the University of Notre Dame, Cloé Lacasse of Utah Royals FC, Delaney Baie Pridham from Ottawa Rapid FC, Nichelle Prince of Boston Legacy FC, Olivia Smith of Arsenal W.F.C., and Evelyne Viens of AS Roma.
Gabrielle Carle of Washington Spirit, Jordyn Huitema of Chicago Red Stars, Adriana Leon of San Diego Wave FC, Lysianne Proulx of Ipswich Town FC, Holly Ward of Seattle Reign FC, and Shelina Zadorsky from West Ham United FC were all unavailable for selection due to injury.
CANWNT (A-Z)
Player | Pronouns | Age | City in which they grew up | Notable youth clubs
Alidou, Marie-Yasmine | she/elle | 30 | Saint-Hubert, QC, CAN | CS Spatial Saint-Hubert
Awujo, Simi | she/elle | 22 | Atlanta, GA, USA | AFC Lightning
Buchanan, Kadeisha | she/elle | 30 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brams United SC
Chukwu, Annabelle | she/elle | 19 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa South United SC
Collins, Sydney | she/elle | 26 | Beaverton, OR, USA | Hillsboro SC
Courtnall, Brooklyn | she/elle | 23 | Los Angeles, CA, USA | AYSO
Dagenais, Melissa | she/elle | 25 | Saint-Hubert, QC, CAN | CS St-Hubert
D’Angelo, Sabrina | she/elle | 32 | Welland, ON, CAN | Welland SC Wizards
Fleming, Jessie | she/elle | 28 | London, ON, CAN | Nor’West Optimist SC
Gilles, Vanessa | she/elle | 30 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa Capital United SC
Grosso, Julia | she/elle | 25 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | Vancouver’s Italian Canadian SF
Hunter, Kaylee | she/elle | 18 | Calgary, AB, CAN | Calgary West FC, Calgary Blizzard SC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Lacasse, Cloé | she/elle | 32 | Sudbury, ON, CAN | AFC Sudbury
Lawrence, Ashley | she/elle | 30 | Caledon East, ON, CAN | Brams United SC
Pridham, Delaney Baie | she/elle | 28 | Saratoga, CA, USA | De Anza Force SC
Prince, Nichelle | she/elle | 31 | Ajax, ON, CAN | Ajax SC
Regan, Emma | she/elle | 26 | Burnaby, BC, CAN | Burnaby Girls SC
Riviere, Jayde | she/elle | 25 | Markham, ON, CAN | West Rouge SC
Rose, Jade | she/elle | 23 | Markham, ON, CAN | Markham SC
Sheridan, Kailen | she/elle | 29 | Whitby, ON, CAN | Pickering SC
Smith, Olivia | she/elle | 21 | Whitby, ON, CAN | Whitby Iroquois SC
Sonis, Janine | she/elle | 31 | Highlands Ranch, CO, USA | Real Colorado
Viens, Evelyne | she/elle | 28 | L’Ancienne-Lorette, QC, CAN | AS Mistral Laurentien
Wickenheiser, Carly | she/elle | 28 | St. Louis, MO, USA | St. Louis Scott Gallagher