Canada Soccer unveils FIFA Women’s World Cup squad for Australia & New Zealand 2023

Canada Soccer have announced the official squad that will represent the nation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™. Coming off their historic Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, Canada are ready to climb a new summit as one of 32 nations competing in the sport’s biggest event from 20 July to 20 August 2023.

Led by Head Coach Bev Priestman and captain Christine Sinclair, there are 23 players that will wear Canada’s badge in their collective effort to return to the top of global football, this time at the world’s largest women’s single-sport event, hosted in Australia and New Zealand. It all gets underway on Thursday 20 July in Canada (Friday 21 July in Australia) when Canada faces the 11-time African champions Nigeria at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

“I’m proud to name this dynamic and exciting 23 player roster,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “I know every single person has given their all to make this squad. It’s a great mix of veterans, experienced and new players who can all bring something different this summer.” 

“I’m naturally devastated for the players who have missed out, especially due to injuries, but I know every player will be with us on our journey and have been pivotal in getting us to this point,” added Priestman.

Leading the group in experience is captain Christine Sinclair, set to participate in her sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup, having scored in all five previous editions. Other veteran players with multiple FIFA Women’s World Cup experiences under their belt include Sophie Schmidt (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019), Allysha Chapman (2015, 2019), Kadeisha Buchanan (2015, 2019), Adriana Leon (2015, 2019), Jessie Fleming (2015, 2019), and Ashley Lawrence (2015, 2019). Simi Awujo, Vanessa Gilles, Cloé Lacasse, Lysianne Proulx, Olivia Smith, and Evelyne Viens will make their World Cup debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™. With an average age of 27 years old, the group features a balanced blend of veterans and fresh faces.

This year marks Canada’s eighth consecutive participation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, coming off back-to-back appearances in the knockout phase at Canada 2015 (Quarterfinals) and France 2019 (Round of 16). Across Canada, all of the matches will be broadcast live on CTV, TSN and RDS, with extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels from CanadaSoccer.com to Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Twitter and Youtube featuring the hashtags #CANWNT and #WECAN.

Beyond their opening match against Nigeria (12.30 local 20 July / 21 July 22.30 ET / 19.30 PT), Canada will face the Republic of Ireland in Perth on Wednesday 26 July (20.00 local / 08.00 ET / 05.00 PT) and then co-hosts Australia back in Melbourne on Monday 31 July (20.00 local / 06.00 ET / 03.00 PT). From Group B, the Round of 16 matches are Monday 7 August (Brisbane or Sydney), the Quarterfinals are Saturday 12 August (Brisbane or Sydney), the Semifinals are Wednesday 16 August (Sydney), and the Final is Sunday 20 August (Sydney).

>> FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament hub & player statistics
>> Canada’s Nike kit for the FIFA Women’s World Cup
>> Watch the #WeCAN Documentary Series, presented by CIBC

CANADA SOCCER’S WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Canada are Olympic champions (Tokyo 2020), two-time bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016), and two-time Concacaf champions (1998 and 2010). In all, Canada have participated in eight consecutive editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (1995 to 2023) and four consecutive editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2021). At Tokyo 2020, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team became the first Canadian team to win three consecutive medals at the Summer Olympic Games and just the third nation in the world to win three medals in women’s soccer.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Teams, meanwhile, have won four Concacaf youth titles: the 2004 and 2008 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Canada have qualified for nine editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all seven editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (including a fourth-place finish at Uruguay 2018).

Canada at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™

SINCLAIR, Christine | she/her | Burnaby, BC, CAN
#12 Forward / attacking midfielder
Current club (USA) : Portland Thorns FC
Youth (Canada) : South Burnaby Metro SC, Burnaby Girls SC, Cliff Avenue United
FIFA youth tournaments: FIFA U-19 World Championship Canada 2002 (Silver Medal)
FIFA World Cups (21 matches, 1,868 minutes, 10 goals, 3 assists): USA 2003 (4th Place), China 2007, Germany 2011, Canada 2015 (Quarterfinals), France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Christine Sinclair is the world’s all-time international goalscoring leader with 190 goals. A 14-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year, she is taking part in her sixth FIFA World Cup. At the professional level, she has lifted five playoff titles across the WPS (2010 and 2011) and NWSL (2013, 2017, 2022). She is an Officer in the Order of Canada.

AWUJO, Simi | she/her | Atlanta, GA, USA
#21 Midfielder
College (USA): University of Southern California
Youth (USA): AFC Lightning
FIFA youth tournaments: U-20 at Costa Rica 2022
FIFA World Cup: debut at Australia/New Zealand 2023
Simi Awujo was just 18 years old when she made her debut in the Canadian youth program in January 2022. After the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Costa Rica, she made her international “A” debut with the Women’s National Team on 3 September 2022.

BUCHANAN, Kadeisha | she/her | Brampton, ON, CAN
#3 Centre back
Current club (England): Chelsea FC
Youth (Canada): Brams United SC, Erin Mills, Toronto El Salvador
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Azerbaijan 2012; U-20 at Canada 2014
FIFA World Cups (9 matches, 810 minutes, 2019 goal against Cameroon): Canada 2015 (Quarterfinals), France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Kadeisha Buchanan is already a three-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year and she helped Canada qualify for the FIFA World Cup after taking home a Silver Medal at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship. She won both the FA Super League and FA Cup in her first season with Chelsea FC in England.

CARLE, Gabrielle | she/her | Lévis, QC, CAN
#16 Fullback
Current club (USA): Washington Spirit
Youth (Canada): AS Chaudière-Est
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Costa Rica 2014; U-20 at Papua New Guinea 2016
FIFA World Cup: France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Gabrielle Carle twice finished as a runner up in voting for Canada Soccer’s U-20 Player of the Year honours. A two-time College Cup winner, she turned pro with Kristianstads DFF in Sweden in 2022 and then joined the NWSL’s Washington Spirit in 2023.

CHAPMAN, Allysha | she/her | Courtice, ON, CAN
#2 Fullback
Current club (USA): Houston Dash
Youth (Canada): Darlington SC, Oshawa Turul SC, Peterborough SC, Ajax United SC
FIFA youth tournaments: U-20 at Chile 2008
FIFA World Cups (9 matches, 708 minutes): Canada 2015 (Quarterfinals), France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Allysha Chapman featured in all nine Canada matches across the past two FIFA World Cups in 2015 and 2019. At the club level, she has made more than 100 appearances in the NWSL and she lifted the NWSL Challenge Cup with the Houston Dash in 2020.

D’ANGELO, Sabrina | she/her | Welland, ON, CAN
#18 Goalkeeper
Current club (England): Arsenal FC
Youth (Canada): Welland SC Wizards, Niagara United Rush
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at New Zealand 2008 and Trinidad and Tobago 2010; U-20 at Japan 2012
FIFA World Cup: France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic medal winner Sabrina D’Angelo was Canada Soccer’s U-20 Player of the Year in 2012. She recently lifted the FA League Cup not long after joining Arsenal FC in January 2023. She won the NWSL Championship with North Carolina Courage in 2016 and 2018.

FLEMING, Jessie | she/her | London, ON, CAN
#17 Midfielder
Current club (England): Chelsea FC
Youth (Canada): London NorWest Optimist SC
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Costa Rica 2014; U-20 at Canada 2014
FIFA World Cups (6 matches, 440 minutes, 2019 goal against New Zealand): Canada 2015 (Quarterfinals), France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Jessie Fleming is already a two-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year. She was named to the Best XI at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship when Canada qualified for the FIFA World Cup. At the club level, she has won the FA Super League three times, the FA Cup three times and the FA League Cup once.

GILLES, Vanessa | she/her | Ottawa, ON, CAN
#14 Centre back
Current club (France): FCF Olympique Lyonnais
Youth (Canada): Ottawa Capital United SC
FIFA World Cup: debut at Australia/New Zealand 2023
Olympic champion Vanessa Gilles was named to the Best XI at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship when Canada qualified for the FIFA World Cup. On loan from Angel City FC, she helped FCF Olympique Lyonnais win both the Division 1 league title and Coupe de France in 2022-23.

GROSSO, Julia | she/her | Vancouver, BC, CAN
#7 Midfielder
Current club (Italy): Juventus FC
Youth (Canada): Vancouver Italian Canadian SC, Cliff Avenue United FC, Burnaby Girls SC, Mountain United FC, Vancouver Whitecaps Girls FC Elite, TSS Rovers FC
FIFA youth tournament: U-17 at Jordan 2016
FIFA World Cup: France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Julia Grosso won the Golden Boot at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship when Canada qualified for the FIFA World Cup. After winning the Serie A league title in 2021-22 with Juventus FC, she was named the league’s Midfielder of the Season in 2022-23. She won the Coppa Italia in back-to-back seasons.

HUITEMA, Jordyn | she/her | Chilliwack, BC, CAN
#9 Forward
Current club (USA): OL Reign
Youth (Canada): Chilliwack FC, Surrey United SC, Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Jordan 2016 and Uruguay 2018
FIFA World Cup (1 match, 90 minutes): France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Jordyn Huitema was Canada Soccer’s Young Player of the Year in 2018. After turning pro in France with Paris Saint-Germain FC, she helped OL Reign win the NWSL Shield as the best team during the 2022 regular season.

LACASSE, Cloé | she/her | Sudbury, ON, CAN
#20 Forward
Current club (England): Arsenal FC
Youth (Canada): Sudbury
FIFA World Cup: debut at Australia/New Zealand 2023
Cloé Lacasse made her international “A” debut with the Olympic champions Canada on 27 November 2021. The following year, she helped Canada qualify for the FIFA World Cup and take home silver at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship. Before joining Arsenal FC, she was Portugal’s 2022-23 Player of the Season with league champions SL Benfica.

LAWRENCE, Ashley | she/her | Caledon East, ON, CAN
#10 Fullback
Current club (England): Chelsea FC
Youth (Canada): Brams United SC, Erin Mills SC
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Trinidad and Tobago 2010 and Azerbaijan 2012; U-20 at Canada 2014
FIFA World Cups (9 matches, 796 minutes, 2015 goal against Netherlands): Canada 2015 (Quarterfinals), France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Ashley Lawrence was Canada Soccer’s Player of the Year in 2019 and a nominee for the FIFA FIFPro all-star team in 2022. Before joining Chelsea FC, she helped Paris Saint-Germain FC win the league title in 2020-21 and the Coupe de France in 2018 and 2022.

LEON, Adriana | she/her | Maple and King City, ON, CAN
#19 Forward
Current club (England): Manchester United FC
Youth (Canada): Vaughan SC, Pickering SC, Mississauga SC Falcons, Brams United SC
FIFA youth tournament: U-20 at Japan 2012
FIFA World Cups (7 matches, 183 minutes): Canada 2015 (Quarterfinals), France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Adriana Leon was Canada’s joint goalscoring leader in both 2021 and 2022. A former College Cup winner, she will rejoin Manchester United FC in the Fall after a short-term loan to Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL.

PRINCE, Nichelle | she/her | Ajax, ON, CAN
#15 Forward
Current club (USA): Houston Dash
Youth (Canada): Ajax SC, Richmond Hill SC, Pickering SC
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Azerbaijan 2012; U-20 at Canada 2014
FIFA World Cup (3 matches, 223 minutes, 2019 goal against New Zealand): France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Nichelle Prince was Canada’s assists leader in 2018. Since turning pro with Houston Dash, she has made more than 100 NWSL appearances and lifted the 2020 Challenge Cup. This past season, she led all Canadians in the NWSL in both goals (tied) and assists.

PROULX, Lysianne | she/her | Boucherville, QC, CAN
#22 Goalkeeper
Current club (Portugal): SCU Torreense
Youth (Canada): CS Boucherville, Roussillon, CS St-Léonard, AS Varennes
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Costa Rica 2014 and Jordan 2016; U-20 at Papua New Guinea 2016
FIFA World Cup: debut at Australia/New Zealand 2023
After winning the Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship in 2014, goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx went on to represent Canada at three FIFA youth tournaments. Before turning pro at SCU Torreense in Portugal, she earned the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll recognition at Syracuse University.

QUINN | they/them | Toronto, ON, CAN
#5 Midfielder
Current club (USA): OL Reign
Youth (Canada): North Toronto SC, Richmond Hill SC, Wexford SC, Erin Mills SC
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Azerbaijan 2012; U-20 at Canada 2014
FIFA World Cup (3 matches, 24 minutes): France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Quinn was named to the Best XI at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship when Canada qualified for the last FIFA World Cup. At the club level, they helped OL Reign win the NWSL Shield as the best team during the 2022 regular season.

RIVIERE, Jayde | she/her | Markham, ON, CAN
#8 Fullback
Current club (England): Manchester United FC
Youth (Canada): West Rouge SC, Pickering SC, Markham SC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Jordan 2016 and Uruguay 2018
FIFA World Cup (3 matches, 102 minutes): France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Jayde Riviere was a teenager at the FIFA World Cup in 2019 and then led Canada in assists in the shortened 2020 international season. Before turning pro with Manchester United FC, she helped the University of Michigan win the Big Ten Conference in 2021.

ROSE, Deanne | she/her | Alliston, ON, CAN
#6 Forward
Current club : Unattached
Youth (Canada): Alliston SC, Bradford SC Eagles
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Jordan 2016; U-20 at Papua New Guinea 2016
FIFA World Cup (1 match, 15 minutes): France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Deanne Rose was Canada Soccer’s U-17 Player of the Year in 2016, the same year she won a Bronze Medal at Rio 2016. Before turning pro with Reading FC in England, she won Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honours in 2017.

SCHMIDT, Sophie | she/her | Abbotsford, BC, CAN
#13 Midfielder
Current club (USA): Houston Dash
Youth (Canada): Abbotsford SA
FIFA youth tournaments: U-19 at Thailand 2004; U-20 at Russia 2006
FIFA World Cups (15 matches, 1341 minutes, 2007 goal against Ghana): China 2007, Germany 2011, Canada 2015 (Quarterfinals), France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Sophie Schmidt was Canada Soccer’s U-20 Player of the Year in 2007 and the Women’s National Team’s top goalscorer in 2014. She has made more than 200 club appearances across the WPS, NWSL and Bundesliga. She won the NWSL Challenge Cup in 2020.

SMITH, Olivia | she/her | Whitby, ON, CAN
#23 Forward / attacking midfielder
College (USA): Pennsylvania State University
Youth (Canada): Whitby Iroquois SC
FIFA youth tournaments: U-20 at Costa Rica 2022
FIFA World Cup: debut at Australia/New Zealand 2023
Olivia Smith was Canada Soccer’s Young Player of the Year in 2019, the same season she became Canada’s youngest debutant at age 15. Earlier this year, she became Canada’s second-best international youth goalscorer (24 goals) and now trails only Christine Sinclair (27).

SHERIDAN, Kailen | she/her | Whitby, ON, CAN
#1 Goalkeeper
Current club (USA): San Diego Wave FC
Youth (Canada): Pickering SC, Ajax United SC, Whitby SC, ANB Futbol, Toronto Junior Lynx, Pickering SC
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at Azerbaijan 2012; U-20 at Canada 2014
FIFA World Cup: France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Kailen Sheridan won the Golden Glove at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship when Canada qualified for the FIFA World Cup and took home a Concacaf silver medal. At the club level, she was the 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year.

VIENS, Evelyne | she/her | L’Ancienne-Lorette, QC, CAN
#11 Forward
Current club (Sweden): Kristianstads DFF
Youth (Canada): AS Mistral Laurentien, CS Haute-St-Charles
FIFA World Cup: debut at Australia/New Zealand 2023
Olympic champion Evelyne Viens scored two goals in her first international season in 2021, in fact making her international “A” debut just five months before the Tokyo Olympic Games. This past season, she ranked second in the Damallsvenskan with 21 goals and nine assists.

ZADORSKY, Shelina | she/her | Kitchener & London, ON, CAN
#4 Centre back
Current club (England): Tottenham Hotspur
Youth (Canada): Kitchener Spirit SC, London City
FIFA youth tournaments: U-17 at New Zealand 2008; U-20 at Japan 2012
FIFA World Cup (4 matches, 360 minutes): France 2019 (Round of 16)
Olympic champion Shelina Zadorsky led Canada in minutes played in 2017. Since turning pro in 2015, she was an NWSL runner up with the Washington Spirit in 2016 and finished third in the FA Super League with Tottenham Hotspur FC in 2021-22.