Goalkeeper Lea Palacio and forward Esther Brossard have been selected to lead the Canadian team at the upcoming FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup in the Philippines. The tournament will take place from November 21 to December 7 in Pasig City, Metropolitan Manila, where Canada will compete in Group B against Spain, Thailand, and Colombia.
Spain, the reigning champion of the UEFA Women’s Futsal Championship, will be a tough opponent, along with Thailand, the runner-up at the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, and Colombia, who finished third at the CONMEBOL Championship. Canada made a significant impact by winning the CONCACAF W Futsal Championship earlier this year in Guatemala.
To secure their spot in the World Cup, Canada defeated Mexico in a penalty shootout and then triumphed over Panama in the championship game. Coach Alexandre Da Rocha expressed pride in the team’s qualification and aims to maintain a high level of performance at the upcoming tournament.
Futsal is a fast-paced indoor sport played with five players on each side. Da Rocha’s World Cup squad includes key players like Palacio, who was named Best Goalkeeper at the CONCACAF Championship, and Brossard, the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals. New additions to the team are defender Katerine Delev and forward Magali Gagne.
The Canadian team will depart for the Philippines for a pre-tournament camp before their first match against Colombia on November 22. They will also face Thailand and Spain in the group stage. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
Female futsal players have long advocated for a FIFA championship, and the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup is a significant step towards gender equality in the sport. In contrast, the Futsal Men’s World Cup has a long history, with Brazil being the dominant force in the competition.
Canada’s previous participation in men’s futsal tournaments dates back to the inaugural event in 1989. Despite not advancing past the first round, Canadian players like Paul Dolan and Nick De Santis made notable contributions to the team. The Canadian roster for the upcoming Women’s World Cup features a mix of experienced players and promising talents from across the country.