Canadian women depart for Asia

Canada’s women’s national team is off the Olympics. The team departed Monday 21 July from Vancouver International Airport for Singapore where it will train these next seven days before heading to China. Canada plays its first game on 6 August at Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Tianjin against Argentina.



This will be Canada’s first trip to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Canada travels to Beijing on 30 July. After its opening match on 6 August, Canada will face hosts China on 9 August (also in Tianjin) and Sweden on 12 August (at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing).



Canada has high hopes for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. There are a dozen countries participating, most of which consider themselves medal contenders. Favourites include number-one ranked United States, number-two ranked Germany and number-three ranked Brazil.



Ever improving, Canada sees itself as one of those medal hopefuls. To get through to the quarter-finals, Canada will need to finish first or second in its group or be one of the top-two third-place finishers (out of three groups). The top eight teams play in the 15 August quarter-final with four teams advancing to the 18 August semi-final. The final (and match for third place) take place on 21 August.