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, featuring 16 teams, will take place from November 21 to December 7 in Pasig City, Metropolitan Manila. Canada finds itself in Group B, pitted against Spain, Thailand, and Colombia.
Spain, a dominant force in women’s futsal, has clinched all three UEFA Women’s Futsal Championship titles. Thailand emerged as the runner-up at the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup in May, while Colombia secured the third spot at the CONMEBOL Championship in March. Canada made headlines by securing victory at the CONCACAF W Futsal Championship in Guatemala earlier this year.
The Canadian team earned their spot in the World Cup by defeating Mexico in a penalty shootout during the semi-finals in Guatemala City. Subsequently, they triumphed over Panama 8-2 in the championship match held on May 4. Canada, alongside Panama, will represent the CONCACAF region at the upcoming World Cup.
Head coach Alexandre Da Rocha expressed pride in the team’s qualification journey, emphasizing a desire to continue their success and make the nation proud. Futsal is a fast-paced indoor game played with five players on each side, with teams allowed to make substitutions during play.
Da Rocha’s 14-player roster for the World Cup includes 12 players who participated in the CONCACAF tournament, with standout performers like Palacio and Brossard leading the charge. New additions to the team are defender Katerine Delev and forward Magali Gagne. The team is set to depart for the Philippines next week for a pre-tournament camp.
Canada will kick off their World Cup campaign against Colombia on November 22, followed by matches against Thailand on November 25 and Spain on November 28. The team’s preparations have included warm-up games against Poland, the Philippines, and Argentina. The tournament features four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.
The FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup marks a significant milestone for female futsal players, who have long advocated for a championship of this scale. In contrast, the inaugural Men’s Futsal World Cup was held in 1989, with defending champions Brazil dominating the competition.
Notable Canadian futsal history includes the 1989 men’s team participation in the inaugural tournament. However, Canada failed to progress beyond the first round. The current Canadian female futsal team is eager to make an impact on the global stage and follow in the footsteps of their male counterparts.
