Canada women's national soccer team

With many national federations beginning to found national women's teams, the Canadian Soccer Association held an interprovincial All-Star Championship and national camp in Winnipeg in the summer of 1986 for the purpose of assembling the first Canadian roster.{{cite news|last1=Mitchell|first1=Kevin|title=The history of the Canadian women's soccer team: From men's hand-me-downs to gold-medal game|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/olympics/the-history-of-the-canadian-womens-soccer-team-from-mens-hand-me-downs-to-gold-medal-game|newspaper=The National Post|date=August 5, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2023}} The team was officially picked on Canada Day, and after three days' training, travelled by bus to Blaine, Minnesota for a two-game series against the recently-founded United States national team. Playing its first international match on July 7, 1986, they were defeated 2–0.{{cite web|last1=Larsen|first1=Karin|title=FIFA Women's World Cup brings back bittersweet memories for Canada's 1st national female soccer players|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fifa-women-s-world-cup-brings-back-bittersweet-memories-for-canada-s-1st-national-female-soccer-players-1.3103032|publisher=CBC Sports|access-date=October 11, 2016|date=June 6, 2015}}{{cite book|last1=Lisi|first1=Clemente A.|title=The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story|url=https://archive.org/details/uswomenssoccerte0000lisi|url-access=registration|quote=canada women's soccer team u.s. 1986 blaine 2–0.|publisher=Scarecrow Press|access-date=October 11, 2016|page=[https://archive.org/details/uswomenssoccerte0000lisi/page/131 131]|year=2010|isbn=9780810874169}} Having been advised by coach Neil Turnbull that losing both matches might prompt the early demise of the program itself, Canada won the second 2–1, with both of its goals scored by Geri Donnelly.

As was the case for most international peers, resources were scant, with the inaugural annual budget for the women's team being $12,000, in comparison to the men's team's $1.7 million. The Canadian Press dubbed the first team "long on potential, short on cash." This would be an ongoing theme for much of the program's history.{{cite news|last1=Penfold|first1=Chuck|last2=McKinnon|first2=Kyle|title=Canada's women's team fighting the same old battles|url=https://www.dw.com/en/former-canada-player-helen-stoumbos-we-fought-the-same-battles-25-years-ago-a-64742955/a-64742955|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=February 17, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} However, as many Canadian players were products of the American NCAA college system, they had experience with that country's much wealthier program. The team made its first overseas journey, to Taiwan, in 1987, with each player raising or otherwise contributing $1500 to cover expenses.

After decades of largely ignoring women's soccer, FIFA agreed to host the 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament as a trial for a potential women's global championship akin to the men's World Cup.{{cite news|last1=De Guzman|first1=Chad|title=How the Women's World Cup Evolved Into What It Is Today|url=https://time.com/6289539/womens-world-cup-2023-history/|magazine=Time|date=June 23, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Canada was one of two CONCACAF teams invited to participate, along with the United States.{{cite web|last1=Mitchell|first1=Kevin|title=Canada Soccer Hall of Fame celebrates early legends of the Women's National Team|url=https://canadasoccer.com/news/canada-soccer-hall-of-fame-celebrates-early-legends-of-the-womens-national-team/|publisher=Canadian Soccer Association|date=April 29, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2023}} They reached the quarter-finals before being ousted by Sweden.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/wom-fifa88.html Results] in RSSSF.com The tournament overall was a success, leading to FIFA establishing the Women's World Cup, with the inaugural 1991 edition in China. Canada sought to secure the lone berth afforded to CONCACAF at the first CONCACAF Women's Championship in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, but was defeated 5–0 in the final by the United States.{{cite news|last1=Prusina|first1=Sandra|title=A history of Canada at the Concacaf Women's Championship|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/history-canada-concacaf-womens-championship/|publisher=Sportsnet|date=October 3, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2023}}

Canada's failure to qualify for the 1991 World Cup had an immediate deleterious impact on the team, which would not play another match for two years, leading to nominal coach Sylvie Béliveau remarking that she was "coaching ghosts." The team reunited for the next CONCACAF championship, this time dubbed the 1993 CONCACAF Women's Invitational Tournament and limited to only four teams. Canada again finished second. Canada hosted the 1994 CONCACAF Women's Championship in Montreal, with the tournament held as a World Cup qualifier. They were again runners-up, securing a place at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup. At year's end, the Canada Soccer awarded its first Female Player of the Year award to Charmaine Hooper, an original member of the 1986 roster and widely considered the best Canadian player of the era.{{cite web|url=https://www.canadasoccer.com/single-award/?type=two_winners&award_id=2|title=Canadian Player of the Year|work=Canadian Soccer Association|date=February 2, 2020 }}{{cite news|last1=James|first1=Tyrell|title=Charmaine Hooper|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/charmaine-hooper|website=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=September 1, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2023}}

Competing at the Women's World Cup in Sweden, Canada played its first match against England on June 6, and was initially down by three goals. The team rallied late in the game, with Helen Stoumbos scoring the country's first-ever World Cup goal (at either men's or women's editions), an Olympico, in the 87th minute. A subsequent goal by Donnelly would see the game end in a 3–2 loss.{{cite news|title='A different time:' Stoumbos remembers Canada's first-ever World Cup goal|url=https://www.tsn.ca/fifa-world-cup/helen-stoumbos-remembers-canada-s-first-ever-world-cup-goal-1.1886595|publisher=TSN|date=November 30, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Jacques|first1=John|title=Reflecting On Canada's First Men's And Women's World Cup Goals|url=https://northerntribune.ca/canada-world-cup-mens-womens-goal/|website=Northern Tribune|date=November 29, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2023}} After a 3–3 draw with Nigeria and a 7–0 rout at the hands of Norway, Canada exited the tournament at the group stage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/archive/sweden1995/matches/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702170241/http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/archive/sweden1995/matches/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 2, 2015|title=FIFA Women's World Cup Sweden 1995 – Matches – FIFA|last=FIFA.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=November 7, 2016}} As a result of this, the team would not qualify for the inaugural women's tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics, as this was based on placing among the top seven teams at the World Cup.{{cite news|last1=Van Diest|first1=Derek|title=How Canada got to the women's soccer final: A journey that was a decade in the making|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/olympics/how-canada-got-to-the-gold-medal-game-a-journey-that-was-a-decade-in-the-making|newspaper=The National Post|date=August 5, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://library.olympic.org/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/73250/regulations-of-the-olympic-football-tournament-games-of-the-xxvith-olympiad-atlanta-1996-20-7-3-8-19 |title=Regulations of the Olympic Football Tournament – Games of the XXVIth Olympiad, Atlanta 1996 |work=FIFA |access-date=15 January 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115092938/https://library.olympic.org/default/digitalCollection/DigitalCollectionInlineDownloadHandler.ashx?documentId=165701 |archive-date=15 January 2021}}

Canada hosted the 1998 CONCACAF Women's Championship in Toronto, with the United States absent from the competition due to their status as World Cup hosts. Canada defeated Mexico in the final, with Liz Smith scoring the match's lone goal, and earning its first ever major championship gold.{{cite web|title=Moment 9: Canada wins first CONCACAF Women's Title|url=https://canadasoccer.com/news/moment-9-canada-wins-first-concacaf-womens-title/|publisher=Canadian Soccer Association|date=May 24, 2012|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Silvana Burtini scored eight goals during the tournament, claiming both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot.

At the landmark 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, Canada drew its opening match against Japan, but lost 7–1 to Norway and 4–1 to Russia, exiting at the group stage for the second consecutive time. Hooper, with goals in both losses, was the country's top scorer.{{cite news|last1=Chong|first1=Joshua|title=FIFA Women's World Cup: A look back at how Team Canada has performed at the international tournament|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/fifa-women-s-world-cup-a-look-back-at-how-team-canada-has-performed-at/article_53281465-9d3f-508e-a684-ad95fdd288c9.html?|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=July 20, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} The 1999 World Cup marked the final appearances for much of the squad, including Donnelly, who opted to retire from international soccer.{{cite news|last1=Laverty|first1=Rich|title=Even Pellerud, a titan of women's coaching, talks winning the Euros and World Cup|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2022/04/22/even-pellerud-a-titan-of-womens-coaching-talks-winning-the-euros-and-world-cup/|magazine=These Football Times|date=April 22, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Kupchuk|first1=Rick|title=A Surrey sports pioneer|url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/sports/a-surrey-sports-pioneer/|newspaper=Surrey Now-Leader|date=December 3, 2014|access-date=July 29, 2023}}

Following the disappointment at the 1999 World Cup and resultant failure to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics, the CSA sought to recruit a European coach for the national team, ultimately selecting former Norwegian national coach Even Pellerud. After the roster dispersed following the previous year's World Cup, he was provided with no scouting information about the nation's players, and opted to travel across the country holding practice matches to assess available players. Among those he identified was a 16-year-old Christine Sinclair, who he immediately named to the team's roster for the 2000 Algarve Cup, their first event under the new coach. Sinclair would rapidly become the team's most important player in the years ahead.{{cite news|last1=Hutchins|first1=Aaron|title=Christine Sinclair is poised to make goal-scoring history|url=https://macleans.ca/sports/christine-sinclair-is-poised-to-make-goal-scoring-history/|magazine=Maclean's|date=December 28, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Later in 2000, Canada competed in what was now called the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, which this time featured Brazil and China as invitees. Canada faced the United States in the semi-final, losing 4–1. Hooper and Sinclair led the team in scoring with seven and five goals, respectively. Pellerud continued to bring new young players into the roster in the next few years, with the squad for the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup including future mainstays Candace Chapman, Carmelina Moscato, and Kara Lang, in addition to Sinclair. Canada reached the final of the Gold Cup, qualifying to the World Cup in the process, but lost 2–1 to the United States after Mia Hamm scored in extra time. Sinclair and Hooper, with seven goals apiece, tied American Tiffeny Milbrett as the tournament's top scorer.{{cite news|last1=D'Hippolito|first1=Joseph|title=Hamm tarnishes Canada's Gold Cup|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hamm-tarnishes-canadas-gold-cup/article4142732/|newspaper=The Globe & Mail|date=November 11, 2002|access-date=July 29, 2023}}

The 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, held in the United States for the second consecutive time, featured a Canada squad that included veteran players like Hooper, Burtini and Andrea Neil and Pellerud's younger additions, the latter now also including Diana Matheson.{{cite news|title=It's just like 2003 for Team Canada at the Women's World Cup|url=https://torontosun.com/2015/06/27/its-just-like-2003-for-team-canada-at-the-womens-world-cup|last=Jones|first=Terry|newspaper=The Toronto Sun|date=June 27, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news|title=Matheson hopes World Cup will further raise profile of women's game, boost new league|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/sports/national-sports/2023/07/17/matheson-hopes-world-cup-will-further-raise-profile-of-womens-game-boost-new-league/|last=Davidson|first=Neil|newspaper=The Lethbridge Herald|date=July 17, 2023|access-date=July 17, 2023}} The team enjoyed unprecedented success at the tournament, losing its opening match of Group C to eventual champion Germany by 4–1,{{cite web|title=2003 FIFA Women's World Cup|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/about/history/us-soccer-as-host/2003-fifa-womens-world-cup|publisher=United States Soccer Federation|access-date=June 6, 2015}} before defeating Argentina 3–0,{{cite news|title=Canada Crushes Argentina 3–0|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2003/09/25/canada-crushes-argentina-3-0/|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=September 25, 2003}} and Japan 3–1 to place second in their group and advance to the knockout stage.{{cite web|title=Canada Advances on Its Height Advantage|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-28-sp-wwcgroupcrdp28-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=September 28, 2003}} Canada faced defending silver medallists China in the quarterfinal match. Hooper scored in the seventh minute, in what would later be called the most important moment of her international career, giving Canada a 1–0 upset victory.{{cite news|title=Charmaine Hooper's heroics: Women's World Cup Moment No. 28|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/charmaine-hoopers-heroics-womens-world-cup-moment-no-28|work=Fox Sports|date=June 23, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Canada was defeated by Sweden in the semi-final match 2–1, and faced the United States in the third-place match, where they were defeated 3–1 and finished fourth at the tournament.{{cite news|title=Moment 3: Canada finishes fourth at FIFA Women's World Cup|url=https://canadasoccer.com/news/moment-3-canada-finishes-fourth-at-fifa-womens-world-cup/|publisher=Canada Soccer Association|date=May 30, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Hooper was subsequently named to the All-Star Team, a first for a Canadian player.

While Canada's fourth-place finish at the World Cup would have been sufficient to qualify for the prior two Summer Olympics, in advance of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens the qualification format had been changed to involve federation qualifying tournaments. Canada enter the 2004 CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament as heavy favourites to qualify, but were unexpectedly ousted by Mexico in the semi-final, missing the Olympics for the third time.{{cite web|title=Mexico ends Canada's quest for Olympic soccer berth|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/mexico-ends-canada-s-quest-for-olympic-soccer-berth-1.476544|publisher=CBC Sports|date=March 3, 2004|access-date=October 11, 2016}} In light of their results the prior year, Sinclair would later admit "we'd planned our lives around going to the Olympics. Not qualifying was the biggest low."{{cite news|title=Christine Sinclair: Ready to strike|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.720/christine-sinclair-ready-to-strike-1.717413|last=Craig|first=Lindsey|website=CBC Sports|date=August 4, 2008|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

Pellerud sought to improve training conditions and professional standards for the historically underfunded women's team, persuading Greg Kerfoot, the owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps in the men's USL First Division, to help finance a residency program that would allow players to earn a salary and focus on playing soccer full-time in the years leading up to the next World Cup and Olympics. However, this led to conflict between the coach and some players, with Hooper, Christine Latham and Sharolta Nonen alleging that they had been inappropriately pressured to player for the Whitecaps' women's team as part of the residency program. As a result, they were all suspended in advance of the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=Jim|title=Canadian women's team in turmoil|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/canadian-womens-team-in-turmoil/article1107529/|newspaper=The Globe & Mail|date=October 16, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2023}}{{cite news|title=Players call for inquiry into coach|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/players-call-for-inquiry-into-coach/article1108398/|last=Mallett|first=Peter|newspaper=The Globe & Mail|date=October 21, 2006|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Sinclair and the rest of the team expressed support for Pellerud, and an arbitrator subsequently found he had acted appropriately.{{cite web|title=Women's soccer team agrees with player suspensions|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/women-s-soccer-team-agrees-with-player-suspensions-1.579711|publisher=CBC Sports|date=October 23, 2006|access-date=July 29, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Arbitrator rules in Canadian soccer coach's favour |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/arbitrator-rules-in-canadian-soccer-coach-s-favour-1.666307 |website=CBC Sports |date=June 20, 2007|access-date=July 17, 2023}} The dispute marked the end of Hooper's twenty-year career with the national team, and Sinclair replaced her as captain.

Canada's results at the Gold Cup qualified them for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China. In Group C, the team lost 2–1 to Norway in its opening match. A 4–0 victory against Ghana followed, with Sinclair managing a brace.{{cite web|title=Matheson's Team Canada Tops Ghana 4–0 for First 2007 Women's World Cup Win|url=http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=1240833|publisher=Princeton University|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=September 15, 2007}} Sinclair scored another goal in the 85th minute of the final group stage match against Australia, which would have been sufficient to advance to the knockout stage had it held, but Australia equalized in stoppage time and Canada exited the tournament.{{cite web|title=Late drama sends Matildas through|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/7004417.stm|publisher=BBC|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=September 20, 2007}} Later in the year, the team won a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Games, in what was widely considered an unimpressive performance marked by player complaints about overtraining.{{cite news |title=Even Pellerud moving on after shaping soccer team |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/even-pellerud-moving-on-after-shaping-soccer-team-1.316303 |publisher=CTV News |date=August 15, 2006|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

The CSA declined the opportunity to host the 2008 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, saying they could not afford the estimated $400,000 expenditure, a decision Pellerud publicly criticized. Canada defeated Mexico in a semi-final rematch from four years' prior, earning its first Olympic berth, in what Sinclair called "sweet revenge." The 1–1 event final eventually saw the United States prevail on penalties.{{cite news|title=2008 Concacaf WOQ Final: Extra time drama between U.S. and Canada|url=https://www.concacaf.com/olympics-qualifying-women/article/2008-concacaf-woq-final-extra-time-drama-between-u-s-and-canada/|publisher=CONCACAF|date=January 9, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2023}} At the women's tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Canada defeated Argentina 2–1, with Chapman scoring Canada's first Olympic goal and Lang providing the winner.{{cite web|title=Canada's Olympic soccer team takes opener over Argentina|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.720/canada-s-olympic-soccer-team-takes-opener-over-argentina-1.702113|publisher=CBC Sports|date=August 6, 2008|access-date=July 29, 2023}} The team advanced out of the group stage before being defeated by the United States, the eventual gold medallists, in their quarter-final match, with Sinclair scoring Canada's lone goal in the 2–1 loss.{{cite news|title=Burnaby's Sinclair is Canada's top female soccer player|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/burnabys-sinclair-is-canadas-top-female-soccer-player|last=McGowan|first=Don|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|date=January 7, 2009|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

Following the Olympics, Pellerud retired from coaching the national team. In assessments of his tenure, he was credited by Matheson for having created "a competitive, professional-feeling team. Before that, it was just sporadic camps a couple of times a year." Some, such as future CSA president Jason DeVos, argued that his tactics had become outdated by 2008, in light of developments in the women's game. Pellerud himself would later say he had left "a solid foundation, so it was the right time for a new coach to come in with a new view."

The CSA recruited Carolina Morace, formerly both a player and coach for the Italian national team, to serve as Canada's next coach.{{cite news|title=Ex-Italian star to coach Canada|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/new-canada-women/|publisher=Sportsnet|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Building on critiques of the team that had been made toward the end of Pellerud's tenure, which was described as having "a one-dimensional style of play that emphasized the long ball, physical strength and endurance"{{cite web|title=Panicked return to route 1 doomed Canada at World Cup|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/panicked-return-to-route-1-doomed-canada-at-world-cup-1.1026869|last=Molinaro|first=John F.|publisher=CBC Sports|date=July 8, 2011|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Morace sought to introduce the team to a new approach with greater emphasis on what The Globe & Mail would later describe as "the gift of style, of beautiful, technically and tactically advanced soccer."{{cite news|title=Morace era ends shamefully for Canadian soccer|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/morace-era-ends-shamefully-for-canadian-soccer/article625981/|last=Brunt|first=Stephen|newspaper=The Globe & Mail|date=July 22, 2011|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

Morace's new approach enjoyed great initial success, culminating in Canada's victory at the CONCACAF championship, this time called the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying. With the United States unexpectedly ousted in the semi-final, Canada faced Mexico in the final, winning 1–0 with Sinclair scoring to take the first major senior title of her tenure.{{cite news |title=Sinclair wins Canadian female player of 2010 award |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/sinclair-wins-canadian-female-player-of-2010-award-1.913074 |website=CBC Sports |date=December 16, 2010|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news |title=4 moments that drove Christine Sinclair's rise to stardom |url=https://canpl.ca/video/4-moments-that-drove-christine-sinclairs-rise-to-stardom |last=O'Connor-Clarke|first=Charlie|publisher=Canadian Premier League |date=January 30, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2023}} By February 2011, Canada had risen to ninth in the FIFA Women's World Ranking, its highest placement in four years. However, despite this success, Morace and the team found themselves enmeshed in disputes with the CSA over funding and compensation. On February 4, 2011, Morace announced that she would quit following the World Cup, citing strategic differences with the federation.{{cite news|title=Carolina Morace leaving women's national team|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/carolina-morace-leaving-womens-national-team|last=Constantineau|first=Bruce|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|date=February 4, 2011|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Days later, the team itself went on strike in support of her, eventually returning to the pitch after the CSA began talks with Morace to resolve differences.{{cite news |title=Canada's women's soccer team ends boycott |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/soccer/canadas-womens-soccer-team-ends-boycott |newspaper=The National Post |date=February 25, 2011|access-date=July 17, 2023}} She ultimately agreed to rescind her resignation after an agreement was reached to create a management group for the team involving parties including Own the Podium. As part of the agreement, the women's team was to train for the World Cup in Morace's home nation of Italy.

At the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Canada faced host nation Germany in its opener, a 2–1 defeat most noteworthy for Sinclair scoring a goal despite having her nose broken by a German player earlier in the match.{{cite news |title=Women's World Cup 2011: Germany thrill home crowd with win over Canada |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jun/26/womens-world-cup-germany-canada |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 26, 2011|access-date=July 17, 2023}} A 4–0 rout at the hands of France formally eliminated Canada from the tournament.{{cite news |title=Canada eliminated at Women's World Cup |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-eliminated-at-women-s-world-cup-1.980270 |last=Molinaro |first=John F. |publisher=CBC Sports |date=June 30, 2011|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Sinclair would later describe it was "the lowest point in my soccer career, the worst game I'd ever seen our team play."{{cite news |title=Face of Soccer in Canada, on Field and on Stamps|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/sports/soccer/face-of-canadian-soccer-with-shoulders-to-carry-it.html |last=Longman |first=Jeré |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 6, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Canada went on to lose 1–0 to Nigeria.{{cite web|last1=Sandor|first1=Steven|title=Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/fifa-womens-world-cup-canada-china-edmonton-john-herdman-christine-sinclair/|publisher=Sportsnet|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=June 5, 2015}} Morace resigned as coach following the team's last-place finish, as did her coaching staff. While generally praised for her tactical improvements, and having taken the team to a new high of sixth in the FIFA Rankings, some members of the team would subsequently say that they felt Morace had unnecessarily devalued "what makes us Canadian -- the fight that puts fear in other teams."{{cite news |title=First she banned peanut butter, then former Team Canada coach Carolina Morace led Canada into a disastrous 2011 World Cup |url=https://torontosun.com/2015/06/03/first-she-banned-peanut-butter-then-former-team-canada-coach-carolina-morace-led-canada-into-a-disastrous-2011-world-cup |last=Larson |first=Kurt |newspaper=The Toronto Sun |date=June 3, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

Englishman John Herdman, the erstwhile coach of the New Zealand national team, was hired as Canada's next coach in August 2011. Herdman sought to build on Morace's approach to the team.{{cite news|title=John Herdman named new coach of Canada's women's soccer team|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/john-herdman-named-new-coach-of-canadas-womens-soccer-team/article592874/|last=Harper|first=Tyler|newspaper=The Globe & Mail|date=August 31, 2011|access-date=July 29, 2023}} In time, this would be regarded as arguably the most consequential hiring in the history of Canadian soccer.{{cite news|title=How John Herdman defined a decade in Canadian soccer|url=https://olympic.ca/2022/11/21/how-john-herdman-defined-a-decade-in-canadian-soccer/|last=Squizzato|first=Daniel|publisher=Canadian Olympic Committee|date=November 21, 2022|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news |title=John Herdman: the mastermind who has led Canada to the men's and women's World Cups |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/john-herdman-canada-soccer-coach-world-cup-qatar-2022 |last=Callaghan |first=Joe |newspaper=The Guardian |date=November 18, 2022|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Less than two months into the new coach's tenure, the team won gold at the 2011 Pan American Games, defeating Brazil in a penalty shootout in the final.{{cite news |title=Canada wins first-ever soccer gold at Pan Am Games |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/canada-wins-first-ever-soccer-gold-at-pan-am-games-1.1080659 |publisher=CBC Sports |date=October 27, 2011|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

The 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament was hosted in Canada. Victory over Mexico in the semi-final secured qualification, but Canada was defeated 4–0 by the United States in the final.{{cite news|title=Canada claims silver at CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying|url=https://canadasoccer.com/news/canada-claims-silver-at-concacaf-womens-olympic-qualifying/|publisher=Canada Soccer Association|date=January 29, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2023}} The 2012 Summer Olympics in London began in unpromising fashion with a loss to Japan. After defeating South Africa and drawing Sweden, Canada nevertheless advanced out of the group stage as the third seed, led by performances from Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi. Canada faced host nation Great Britain in the quarter-final, defeating them 2–0.{{cite news |title=London 2012: Team GB women crash out of Olympics with defeat by Canada|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/03/london-2012-team-gb-women-olympics |last=Wilson |first=Paul |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 3, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2023}} This led to a historic Olympic semi-final against the United States at Old Trafford that saw the Americans prevail 4–3, with Sinclair recording a hat-trick.{{cite news |title=Olympic women's soccer 2012 – USA 4-3 Canada - as it happened|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/06/olympics-2012-football-usa-canada-live |last=Parker |first=Graham |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 6, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2023}} The game was noted both for its high quality of play and for the controversial calls made by referee Christina Pedersen, who many felt had wrongly penalized Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod for time-wasting, which penalty had in turn allowed the United States to tie the game.{{cite news |title=The greatest knockout match in major-tournament football since 1982|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/aug/07/the-fiver-women-football-olympics |last=Murray |first=Scott |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 7, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news |title=USA vs. Canada Women's Soccer: Epic Battle Was One of the Best Games Ever|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1287285-usa-vs-canada-womens-soccer-epic-battle-was-one-of-the-best-games-ever |last=Kondzella |first=Pat |website=The Bleacher Report |date=August 7, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news |title=The U.S. Women's Soccer Team Just Won an Instant Classic Over Canada|url=https://nymag.com/daily/sports/2012/08/uswnt-just-won-an-instant-classic-over-canada.html |last=Rosenthal |first=Seth |magazine=New York |date=August 6, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Canada would go on to the third-place game, Matheson scoring to secure the women's first-ever Olympic medal.{{cite news|title= Canadian women's soccer team gets Olympic bronze medals |first=Jeff |last=Blair |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/canadian-womens-soccer-team-wins-olympic-soccer-bronze/article4471130/ |newspaper=The Globe & Mail |date=August 9, 2012 |access-date=August 10, 2012 }}

The London Olympics had a significant legacy for the women's national team, elevating both its profile and that of captain Christine Sinclair, and helping to make Canada a rare instance where the women's team enjoyed significantly greater visibility than the men's team.{{cite news |title=The Women's National Team Taught Canada How to Be a Soccer Country|url=https://thewalrus.ca/the-womens-national-team-taught-canada-how-to-be-a-soccer-country/ |last=Rustad |first=Harley |newspaper=The Walrus |date=November 23, 2022|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Sinclair became the first soccer player to win the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canadian female athlete of the year, and the first soccer player, male or female, to win the Lou Marsh Trophy as athlete of the year.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/christine-sinclair-wins-lou-marsh-award-1.1212858 |title=Christine Sinclair wins Lou Marsh Award |website=CBC Sports|date=December 10, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news|title=Sinclair wins 2012 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award|url=https://canadasoccer.com/news/sinclair-wins-2012-bobbie-rosenfeld-award/|publisher=Canada Soccer Association|date=December 27, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2023}} She was soon called "the face of Canadian soccer." The team received the Canadian Press Team of the Year Award, another first for soccer.{{Cite web|title=Canadian women's soccer team named CP Team of the Year|url=https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=412361|publisher=TSN|date=December 29, 2012|access-date=July 29, 2023}}

File:FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 - Edmonton (18573809485).jpg

2015 was Canada's "summer of soccer hosting," with the country awarded both the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2015 Pan American Games, in addition to matches of the men's Gold Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2015/04/26/canadas-summer-of-soccer-hosting-is-just-around-the-corner/?sh=407a0b8564d5 |title=Canada's Summer Of Soccer Hosting Is Just Around The Corner |last=McMahon |first=Bobby |magazine=Forbes|date=December 10, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2023}} In light of the women's team's last-place finish in 2011 and its subsequent bronze medal at the Olympics, there were expectations on the team to perform on home soil.{{cite news |title=Women's World Cup 2015 Group A preview: Canada, China, Holland and New Zealand|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/02/womens-world-cup-2015-group-a-preview-canada-china-holland-and-new-zealand |last=Murray |first=Caitlin |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 2, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Herdman expressed a desire "to aim high and make sure 2015 is a memorable year for Canada," in the hopes of accelerating the growth of support for both women's soccer and the sport in general.{{cite news |title=John Herdman tries to condition Canada into accepting women's football|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/17/john-herdman-canada-womens-world-cup |last=Taylor |first=Louise |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 17, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2023}} In the World Cup's Group A, Canada defeated China by 1–0 in its opening match, on the strength of a Sinclair penalty kick.{{cite news|last1=Davidson|first1=Neil|title=Canada edges China on late Sinclair penalty in Women's World Cup opener|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/canada-edges-china-on-late-sinclair-penalty-in-womens-world-cup-opener/article24834892/|newspaper=The Globe & Mail|access-date=June 7, 2015|date=June 7, 2015}} They drew the remaining two group stage matches, but finished first in the group and faced Switzerland in the Round of 16. Defeating the Swiss 1–0 in the opening of the knockout stage, Canada advanced to face England.{{cite news |title=Canada edge past Switzerland into last eight of Women's World Cup|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/22/womens-world-cup-canada-switzerland-match-report |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 22, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2023}} In the quarter-final, Sinclair scored Canada's lone goal in the 42nd minute, with Canada ultimately losing the match 2–1.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fifa-women-s-world-cup-canada-knocked-out-by-england-1.3130863|title=Canada takes knockout blow from England at Womens World Cup|work=CBC Sports|access-date=October 13, 2017}} The result was generally considered underwhelming, highlight the team's struggles with offence from players other than Sinclair.{{cite news|title=Women's World Cup 2015: After the heartbreaking loss to England, Canada looks to future with hope|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/soccer/womens-world-cup-2015-canada-feels-heartbreak-of-exit-but-look-to-future-with-hope|newspaper=The National Post|date=June 28, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan earned distinction at the tournament, being named the winner of the FIFA Young Player Award and a place on the All-Star Squad.{{cite news |title=Canada's Buchanan named World Cup's top youngster |url=https://torontosun.com/2015/07/05/canadas-kadeisha-buchanan-named-world-cups-top-youngster |last=Jones |first=Terry |newspaper=The Toronto Sun |date=July 5, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Later in the summer, Buchanan joined the Canadian squad for the Pan American women's tournament, alongside other touted emerging talents such as Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie, Ashley Lawrence, Quinn, and Shelina Zadorsky.{{cite news|title=Buchanan among young stars set for Pan Am football|url=https://olympic.ca/2015/07/09/buchanan-among-young-stars-set-for-pan-am-football/|last=Hossain|first=Asif|publisher=Canadian Olympic Committee|date=July 9, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Rustad: Canada needs new blood, time to improve|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/canada-womens-soccer-john-herdman-pan-am-games/|last1=Molinaro|first1=John|publisher=Sportsnet|date=July 28, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2023}}{{cite news|title=Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games will be a preview of what the future holds for Canadian women's soccer|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/soccer/pan-am-games-will-be-a-preview-of-what-the-future-holds-for-canadian-womens-soccer|last=Faris|first=Nick|newspaper=The National Post|date=July 10, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Canada reached the semi-finals, losing there to Colombia, before also losing the bronze medal match to Mexico. At year's end, Buchanan received the CSA's Female Player of the Year award, ending an eleven-year Sinclair winning streak, and was also shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon d'Or.{{cite news |title=Kadeisha Buchanan named Canadian women's soccer player of the year|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/kadeisha-buchanan-canadian-female-soccer-player-of-year-1.3369901 |last=Davidson |first=Neil |publisher=CBC Sports |date=December 17, 2015|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

Canada next focused on qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The team reached the final of the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, thereby qualifying to the Olympic Games, and losing the championship match to the United States 2–0.{{cite news |title=USWNT beat Canada to win Olympic qualifying tournament|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/21/uswnt-beat-canada-to-win-olympic-qualifying-tournament |newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 22, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2023}} A month later, they won the 2016 edition of the Algarve Cup, defeating upcoming Olympic host nation Brazil in the final.{{cite news|title=Canada beats Brazil, wins Algarve Cup in Portugal|url=https://olympic.ca/2016/03/09/canada-beats-brazil-wins-algarve-cup-in-portugal/|last=Hossain|first=Asif|publisher=Canadian Olympic Committee|date=March 9, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2023}} At the Olympic women's tournament, Canada swept its three group stage games, culminating in a historic win over Germany that broke a 12-game, 22-year losing streak.{{cite news|title=Rio 2016: Canada scores historic soccer win over Germany|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2874067/rio-2016-canada-scores-historic-soccer-win-over-germany/|website=Global News|date=August 9, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Canada defeated France in the quarter-final, but was defeated in a semi-final rematch with Germany by 2–1.{{cite news|title=Rio 2016: Germany upsets Canada's quest for gold in women's soccer|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2886160/rio-2016-germany-upsets-canadas-quest-for-gold-in-womens-soccer/|website=Global News|last=Davidson|first=Neil|date=August 16, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Playing in the bronze medal game for the second consecutive Olympics, Sinclair scored the game-winning goal against Brazil.{{cite news|title=Canada 'privileged' to have Christine Sinclair, soccer official says|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/olympics/2016/08/20/canada-privileged-to-have-christine-sinclair-soccer-official-says.html|newspaper=The Toronto Star|last=Davidson|first=Neil|date=August 20, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

In 2017, Herdman informed the CSA that he hoped to transition to men's coaching following the next World Cup. However, disagreements with then-current national men's coach Octavio Zambrano led to this opportunity emerging earlier than expected, and he was announced as the next Canadian men's coach in January 2018, a move that came as a surprise to the women's team.{{cite news |title=John Herdman, decorated women's coach, makes sudden move to Canada's men's team|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/john-herdman-takes-over-canadas-mens-program-1.4478560 |last=Davidson |first=Neil |publisher=CBC Sports |date=January 8, 2018|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite web|title=What Herdman's move to men's team means for Canadian soccer|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/john-herdman-octavio-zambrano-canada-soccer-mens-team-womens-team-2/|last1=Molinaro|first1=John|publisher=Sportsnet|date=January 9, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Herdman would later express regret that the news had not been delivered better. Stylistically, the team during his tenure was at its best known for "defending well and being opportunistic on attack."{{cite news|title=Canada earns Olympic women's soccer bronze|url=https://macleans.ca/olympics/canada-soccer-bronze-brazil-olympic/|last1=Davidson|first1=Neil|magazine=Maclean's|date=August 19, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Conversely, goal-scoring outside of Sinclair remained a constant question. Herdman was credited for his motivational skills, and for continued improvements to the team's infrastructure. At the time of his departure, Canada sat fifth in the FIFA Rankings, a new highpoint. The Canadian Olympic Committee called the Herdman era "the bronze age."

Assistant coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller, previously a coach of the Danish women's team, was named as the next head coach for Canada. Canada pursued World Cup qualification at the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship, routing Panama 7–0 in the semi-final to secure a berth. They were defeated by the United States in the final 2–0.{{cite web|title=Canada takes home silver at 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship|url=https://canadasoccer.com/news/canada-takes-home-silver-at-2018-concacaf-womens-championship/|publisher=Canadian Soccer Association|date=October 17, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2023}}

At the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, Canada narrowly defeated Cameroon in its opening group stage match, with Buchanan scoring the winning header.{{cite news |title=Kadeisha Buchanan heads Canada to World Cup victory over Cameroon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jun/10/canada-cameroon-womens-world-cup-match-report |last=Wrack |first=Suzanne |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 10, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2023}} After defeating New Zealand, Canada faced the Netherlands in its final group match, losing 2–1, with Sinclair's goal equalling Brazilian Marta's achievement of scoring in five different World Cups.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/christine-sinclair-scores-goal-no-182-vs-dutch-world-cup/|title=Christine Sinclair scores goal No. 182 vs. Dutch at World Cup|publisher=Sportsnet|date=June 20, 2019|access-date=July 30, 2023}} Facing Sweden in the Round of 16, Canada was down 1–0 when they were awarded a penalty after a hand ball by a Swedish defender. While Sinclair commonly took penalties for the team, in this instance she was aware that Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl had saved her penalty attempt at the Algarve Cup the previous March, and opted to have Beckie take it instead.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-worldcup-swe-can-idUSKCN1TQ01Z|title=Canada rues 'Gretzky' moment during World Cup exit|publisher=Reuters|date=June 24, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Beckie's attempt was saved by Lindahl, and Canada were ultimately eliminated.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/06/24/canada-meets-sweden-world-cup-knockout-round/|title=Sweden handles Canada, 1-0, will face Germany in World Cup quarterfinal|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 24, 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/worldcup/womens-world-cup-canada-christine-sinclair-1.5188763|title=Christine Sinclair passed on crucial penalty kick in loss to Sweden and many are wondering why|last=Davidson|first=Neil|work=CBC Sports|date=June 25, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2023}} The performance of the national team was widely critiqued in the aftermath of the event, with many commentators faulting the lack of goal-scoring threat from players other than Sinclair.{{cite news |title=Women's World Cup 2019 power rankings: USA top, Germany rising|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jun/26/womens-world-cup-2019-power-rankings-usa-germany-england-quarter-finals |last=Wrack |first=Suzanne |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 26, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/worldcup/womens-world-cup-canada-sweden-sinclair-1.5188087|title=Canada's women's World Cup exit leaves bitter taste|last=Reed|first=Nigel|publisher=CBC Sports|date=June 24, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2023}}{{cite news |title=World Cup exit shows Canada will miss the remarkable Christine Sinclair|url=https://www.thespec.com/sports/world-cup-exit-shows-canada-will-miss-the-remarkable-christine-sinclair/article_c97054cb-db4e-597f-be35-0efefce5bae2.html |author=The Canadian Press |newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator |date=June 25, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

During the 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, Sinclair scored her 185th career international goal, breaking the record previously set by American Abby Wambach.{{cite web |date=January 29, 2020 |title=Canada's Christine Sinclair breaks record for most international goals |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/canada-canw/story/4043440/canadas-christine-sinclair-breaks-record-for-most-international-goals |last=Hays |first=Graham |access-date=October 23, 2021 |website=ESPN}}{{cite news |title=Christine Sinclair, the canny hunter, scores her way into history books|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/07/christine-sinclair-most-international-goals-canada-women |last=Wrack |first=Suzanne |newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 7, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2023}} Canada reached the tournament final, thereby qualifying for the Olympics, and lost 3–0 to the United States in the final.{{cite news |title=Megan Rapinoe on target as USA beat Canada in Concacaf final|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/10/megan-rapinoe-on-target-as-us-beat-canada-in-concacaf-final |newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 10, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2023}} The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the Olympics being delayed by a year. Heiner-Møller had originally intended to depart for a job with the Danish Football Association following the conclusion of the Olympic tournament, but due to the change in scheduling, he instead left in advance of it in the summer of 2020.{{cite news |title=Canadian national women's soccer coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller steps down|url=https://torontosun.com/sports/soccer/canadian-national-womens-soccer-coach-kenneth-heiner-moller-steps-down |last=Van Diest |first=Derek |newspaper=The Toronto Sun |date=June 10, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

In October 2020, the CSA hired Bev Priestman as the next head coach. She had previously coached the Canadian women's youth teams and served as an assistant to Herdman before leaving for a job with The Football Association. Looking ahead to the Tokyo Olympics, she said her intent was "to change the colour of the medal."{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-womens-soccer-coach-bev-priestman-1.5779934|title=Bev Priestman takes over Canada's women's soccer team ahead of Olympic medal pursuit|last=Butler|first=Signa|publisher=CBC Sports|date=October 28, 2020|access-date=July 30, 2023}} The Olympic women's tournament commenced with a 1–1 draw against hosts Japan, with Sinclair scoring in her 300th appearance. Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé was injured in a collision, but played through it to make a key penalty save before exiting the match.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/soccer/canada-women-s-olympic-soccer-japan-recap-1.6110662|title=Canada's women's soccer team opens Olympics with draw against favoured Japan|last=Strashin|first=Jamie|publisher=CBC Sports|date=July 21, 2021|access-date=July 30, 2023}} Beckie scored twice for a 2–1 victory against Chile,{{cite news|title=Beckie rebounds to score twice for Canada in win against Chile at Olympic women's soccer tournament|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/olympics/beckie-rebounds-to-score-twice-for-canada-in-win-against-chile-at-womens-soccer-tournament|last=Van Diest|first=Derek|newspaper=The National Post|date=July 24, 2021|access-date=July 30, 2023}} before Canada managed another draw against Great Britain to conclude the group stage. A scoreless quarterfinal match against Brazil was decided on penalties, Canada prevailing 4–3, with a returning Labbé a standout in goal.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/soccer/womens-soccer-canada-brazil-recap-july-30-1.6123636 |title=Dramatic penalty kicks send Canada's women's soccer team to Olympic semifinals |website=CBC Sports |last=Murray |first=Nick |date=July 30, 2021 |access-date=August 2, 2021 }} After missing her own penalty attempt, Sinclair advised Priestman that Fleming should take future penalties, which she did decisively in the semi-final match with the United States, Canada winning 1–0.{{cite news|url=https://www.wellandtribune.ca/sports/soccer/let-jessie-have-it-how-christine-sinclair-s-penalty-kick-plan-helped-canada-conquer-u/article_bec3c8dd-5d66-5b6e-bb2d-ee98cd62f61f.html |title='Let Jessie have it.' How Christine Sinclair's penalty kick plan helped Canada conquer U.S. at Tokyo Olympics |newspaper=The Welland Tribune|last1=Sinclair |first1=Christine |last2=Brunt |first2=Stephen |date=December 10, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2023 }} This was the team's first victory over the Americans in twenty years.{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/soccer/womens-soccer-canada-usa-recap-aug-2-1.6126694 | title=Canada shocks U.S. in semis, will play for Olympic gold in women's soccer |website=CBC Sports|last=Heroux |first=Devin |date=August 2, 2021 | access-date=August 2, 2021 }} Fleming scored another penalty in the final against Sweden, which ended 1–1 after extra-time. Canada eventually won the match 3–2 on penalty kicks to capture the gold medal in women's soccer for the first time, with Julia Grosso scoring the clinching goal.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/soccer/womens-soccer-canada-sweden-gold-medal-aug-6-1.6131828 |title=Canadian women's soccer team delivers thrilling Olympic gold-medal victory over Sweden |last=Heroux |first=Devin |website=CBC Sports |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/article/canada-claims-gold-olympic-womens-soccer-defeating-sweden-final/ |title=Canada claims gold in Olympic women's soccer after defeating Sweden in final |website=Sportsnet |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=August 7, 2021 }} The result was hailed as the biggest victory in Canadian soccer history, and a capstone to Sinclair's tenure.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/article-canada-womens-soccer-team-wins-tokyo-olympic-gold-and-20-years-of/ |title=20 years of Christine Sinclair made Tokyo Olympic women's soccer gold possible |newspaper=The Globe & Mail |last=Kelly |first=Cathal |date=August 6, 2021 |access-date=July 18, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/article/greatness-christine-sinclair-made-olympic-gold-possible/ |title=How the greatness of Christine Sinclair made Olympic gold possible|last=Brunt|first=Stephen|publisher=Sportsnet|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite news|title=Golden generation lifts iconic Sinclair to the Olympic pinnacle|url=https://olympic.ca/2021/08/06/golden-generation-lifts-iconic-sinclair-to-the-olympic-pinnacle/|last=Squizzato|first=Daniel|publisher=Canadian Olympic Committee|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=July 18, 2023}}

The immediate post-Olympic period saw the retirement of Labbé, who had achieved significant fame as a result of her performance in Tokyo, with Kailen Sheridan becoming the team's new starting goalkeeper in advance of the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-canada-and-the-concacaf-w-championship/ |title=What you need to know about Canada and the Concacaf W Championship|last=Molinaro|first=John|publisher=Sportsnet|date=July 3, 2022|access-date=July 30, 2023}} Grosso scored the lone goal in a group match with Panama to send Canada to the semi-final and secure World Cup qualification.{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/canada-qualifies-2023-fifa-women-s-world-cup-panama-concacaf-1.1823325 |title=Canada secures spot in 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with win over Panama|publisher=TSN|date=July 8, 2022|access-date=July 30, 2023}} Canada defeated Jamaica in the semi-final, before losing 1–0 to the United States in the final.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-jamaica-soccer-womens-concacaf-1.6521444|title=Canadian women's soccer team tops Jamaica, will face U.S. in CONCACAF W Championship final|publisher=CBC Sports|date=July 15, 2022|access-date=July 30, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-us-concacaf-w-champsionship-final-recap-1.6524553|title=Canadian women's soccer team falls to U.S. on late penalty in CONCACAF W Championship final|publisher=CBC Sports|date=July 19, 2022|access-date=July 30, 2023}}

Longstanding disputes with the CSA over compensation and program funding led to the players calling a strike ahead of the 2023 SheBelieves Cup, but under threat of legal action from the federation they agreed to resume training.{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9487458/canada-soccer-women-labour-dispute-sinclair/|title=Canada women's soccer team 'deflated' as labour dispute overshadows key tournament|last=Davidson|first=Neil|website=Global News|date=February 14, 2023|access-date=July 18, 2023}} With morale low, the team performed poorly and finished last among the four participants.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-japan-shebelieves-cup-recap-feb-22-1.6757005 |title=Canadian women cap disappointing SheBelieves Cup with error-riddled loss to Japan |website=CBC Sports |date=February 22, 2023 |access-date=July 18, 2023}} The team played only one additional match prior to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, a 2–1 loss to France in April.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-france-womens-soccer-friendly-recap-apr-11-1.6807227|title=Canada comeback bid falls short in loss to France during women's World Cup tune-up|publisher=CBC Sports|date=April 11, 2023|access-date=July 31, 2023}} Canada was drawn into Group B, entering as one of the favourites to advance, but with questions raised around the team's offensive capabilities, injuries to key players, and the off-field disputes with the CSA.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/womens-world-cup/article/womens-world-cup-preview-foolish-to-count-out-canada/ |title=Women's World Cup Preview: Foolish to count out Canada |last=Molinaro |first=John F. |publisher=Sportsnet |date=July 19, 2023 |access-date=July 19, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/fifa-womens-world-cup-group-b-preview-is-sixth-time-a-charm-for-canadas-sinclair/|title=FIFA Women's World Cup Group B Preview: Is sixth time a charm for Canada's Sinclair?|last=Molinaro|first=John F.|publisher=Sportsnet|date=July 13, 2023|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-women-world-cup-2023-group-b-preview-schedule-watch-live|title=FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 - Group B: Preview, schedule and how to watch |last=Lee|first=Eleanor|publisher=Olympic Channel|date=July 16, 2023|access-date=July 31, 2023}} With Fleming now widely identified as the team's most important player,{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37899302/2023-womens-world-cup-32-team-preview-stats |title=2023 FIFA Women's World Cup team-by-team preview |website=ESPN |date=July 18, 2023 |access-date=July 23, 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/who-are-canada-5-biggest-stars-not-named-sinclair-at-2023-world-cup-canwnt |title=Who are Canada's 5 biggest stars (not named Sinclair!) at 2023 World Cup |last=Ristic |first=Raine |website=OneSoccer |date=July 17, 2023 |access-date=July 19, 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/fifa-women-s-world-cup/jessie-fleming-ready-to-step-up-as-canada-s-leader-1.1985712 |title=Fleming ready to step up as Canada's leader |last=Spiker |first=Brianne |website=TSN |date=July 19, 2023 |access-date=July 23, 2023}} an injury in the pre-tournament that left her unavailable for the opening match against Nigeria was a setback. The match ended in a 0–0 draw, with Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saving a Sinclair penalty attempt. The match renewed concerns about offense.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/worldcup/canada-nigeria-womens-world-cup-recap-july-20-1.6913174 |title=Sinclair misses penalty kick as Canada ties Nigeria in Women's World Cup opener |last=Davidson |first=Neil |website=CBC Sports |date=July 21, 2023 |access-date=July 21, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/world-cup/world-cup-match-report-christine-sinclair-s-sixth-sense-is-off-in-canada-s-disappointing/article_109841b0-6dc8-578b-a98f-6b83aea75a16.html |title=World Cup match breakdown: Christine Sinclair's sixth sense is off in Canada's disappointing draw with Nigeria |newspaper=The Toronto Star |last=Callaghan |first=Joe |date=July 21, 2023 |access-date=July 21, 2023 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-canadas-womens-world-cup-opener/ |title=Canada should have won its World Cup opener, but several mortal mistakes undid the team |newspaper=The Globe & Mail |last=Kelly |first=Cathal |date=July 21, 2023 |access-date=July 21, 2023 |url-access=subscription}} After a poor first half against Ireland, Canada mounted a comeback for a 2–1 victory.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/womens-world-cup/article/canadas-womens-world-cup-comeback-cued-by-veteran-subs-starting-with-sinclair/|title=Canada's Women's World Cup comeback cued by veteran subs, starting with Sinclair|last=Molinaro|first=John F.|website=Sportsnet|date=July 26, 2023|access-date=July 26, 2023}} Canada entered the final group match against co-host Australia needing only a draw to advance to the Round of 16, but were routed 4–0 by the Australians, exiting the tournament. They became the first reigning Olympic champions not to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup. Assessments of the team once again criticized its lack of scoring potential with Sinclair no longer in her prime, as well as its struggles to keep up with evolution of the women's game internationally.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-canada-eliminated-from-womens-world-cup-after-falling-4-0-to-australia/ |title=Canada left searching for answers in wake of early exit from Women's World Cup |newspaper=The Globe & Mail |last=Davidson |first=Neil |date=July 31, 2023 |access-date=July 31, 2023 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/long-standing-issues-with-scoring-creativity-at-root-of-canadas-world-cup-exit/|title=Long-standing issues with scoring, creativity at root of Canada's World Cup exit|last=Molinaro|first=John F.|website=Sportsnet|date=July 31, 2023|access-date=July 31, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-canada-fifa-world-cup-team-defeat/ |title=Canada's women's soccer team was not ready for the World Cup |newspaper=The Globe & Mail |last=Kelly |first=Cathal |date=July 31, 2023 |access-date=July 31, 2023 }}

Following the disappointment at the World Cup, doubts were raised about the team's prospects in its September CONCACAF Olympic qualification playoff against Jamaica, with the latter team having performed unexpectedly well at the World Cup and reached the Round of 16.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/olympic-qualifier-preview-struggling-canada-faces-tough-test-vs-jamaica/|title=Olympic Qualifier Preview: Struggling Canada faces tough test vs. Jamaica|last=Ranney|first=Julia|website=Sportsnet|date=September 21, 2023|access-date=September 27, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-jamaica-olympic-qualifers-preview-1.6973579 |title=Olympic hopes on the line as Canada's women's soccer team faces Jamaica |last=Butler |first=Signa |website=CBC Sports |date=September 21, 2023 |access-date=September 27, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/the-buzzer-newsletter-canada-womens-soccer-olympics-1.6974510 |title=The Canadian women's soccer team is in danger of missing the Olympics |last=Campigotto |first=Jesse |website=CBC Sports |date=September 21, 2023 |access-date=September 27, 2023}} Priestman made a number of changes to her configurations, including starting perennial substitute Cloé Lacasse and relative newcomers Jade Rose and Sydney Collins. Canada defeated Jamaica by an aggregate score of 4–1 across the two matches, securing its fifth consecutive Olympic berth.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/canadian-national-women-s-team-beats-jamaica-to-take-lead-into-second-leg-of-olympic-qualifier-1.2011388 |title=CanWNT beats Jamaica to take lead into second leg of Olympic qualifier |website=TSN |date=September 22, 2023 |access-date=September 27, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/maturing-canadians-headed-to-olympics-with-dreams-of-defending-crown/|title=Maturing Canadians will get chance to defend Olympic title|last=Molinaro|first=John F.|website=Sportsnet|date=September 27, 2023|access-date=September 27, 2023}} Sinclair notably featured in only thirty minutes, coming on as a substitute during the second game at BMO Field. Having achieved Olympic qualification, Sinclair announced that she would retire at year's end, having been persuaded to play in a "farewell tour" that saw the team play four matches across the country, including its first in the Maritimes since 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/christine-sinclair-farewell-tour-1.7009395 |title=Christine Sinclair sees farewell tour with Canada as 'great opportunity' to thank fans |last=Davidson |first=Neil |website=CBC Sports |date=October 26, 2023 |access-date=December 6, 2023}} The tour concluded with Sinclair's final match on December 5, 2023, held at BC Place in Vancouver, renamed "Christine Sinclair Place" for the occasion. Canada defeated Australia 1–0 before a crowd of 48,112, a national record for a women's friendly, with Sinclair starting the match and being substituted off early in the second half. Her departure was called the end of an era for Canadian soccer.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/soccer-christine-sinclair-canada-final-game-recap-1.7050271 |title=Christine Sinclair's Canadian career is over, but her impact will be felt for generations |last=Jones |first=Chris |website=CBC Sports |date=December 6, 2023 |access-date=December 6, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Christine Sinclair closes international chapter as Canada's storied pioneer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/06/christine-sinclair-closes-international-chapter-as-canadas-storied-pioneer |last=Kourabi |first=Mariam |newspaper=The Guardian |date=December 6, 2023|access-date=December 6, 2023}}

In advance of the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup, Fleming was named the new team captain.{{cite web |title=Canada names midfielder Jessie Fleming captain of the women's soccer team |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-canada-names-midfielder-jessie-fleming-captain-of-the-womens-soccer/ |last=Davidson |first=Neil |newspaper=The Globe & Mail |date = February 21, 2024 |access-date = February 22, 2024 }} Canada won its group and finished first in the overall tournament seeding,{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/canada-costa-rica-gold-cup-recap-feb-28-1.7128614 |title=Canada shuts out Costa Rica to stay perfect at W Gold Cup, clinch top seed for quarterfinals|work=CBC Sports|date=February 28, 2024|access-date=March 11, 2024}} ultimately reaching a semi-final matchup with the United States. Tied 2–2 after extra time, they lost 1–3 on penalties.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2024/mar/06/uswnt-canada-w-gold-cup-semi-final-live?page=with:block-65e950fb8f087455e860ac33 |title=Canada 2-2 USA (aet, 1-3 on pens): Concacaf W Gold Cup semi-final – as it happened|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Dure|first=Beau|date=March 6, 2024|access-date=March 11, 2024}}

In July 2024, prior to the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics, members of the team's staff were accused of using a camera drone to covertly record a practice by New Zealand—the opponent of Canada's first group stage match—at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne. Team analyst Joseph Lombardi was detained by local police for operating the drone.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-24 |title=Olympic spying claim: New Zealand report Canada for flying drone over football training |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/24/paris-olympic-spying-claim-drone-new-zealand-canada-womens-football-training |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |agency=Reuters}}{{Cite news |last=Linehan |first=Meg |title=Canada's Olympic Committee apologizes after alleged spying attempt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5654570/2024/07/23/new-zealand-soccer-spy-canada-olympics/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Lombardi, assistant coach Jasmine Mander, and later Priestman, were dismissed and sent home by Canada Soccer.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Paris 2024: Canada suspend Beverly Priestman over drone incident |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c2x0y786rv0o |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |date=February 28, 2024 |title=Canadian soccer coach Priestman to miss Olympic opener after staffers alleged to have spied on opponent |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/soccer/canada-soccer-drone-july-24-1.7273360 |access-date=July 25, 2024 |work=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press}} The COC reported that New Zealand had asked FIFA to not award points to Canada for the July 25 match. New Zealand Football said that they had sought "urgent action" from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} On July 27, FIFA announced that it had deducted six points from Canada in the tournament, fined Canada Soccer 200,000 francs, and suspended Priestman, Lombardi, and Mander for one year.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=Canada's Olympic women's football team lose points & coach banned |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/ckdg0gqk4kqo |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} Canada defeated New Zealand and France by identical scores of 2–1 and Colombia 1–0, advancing to the knockout round despite the six-point deduction. Fleming called it "the most unique group stage that I've ever played in."{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/soccer/canada-olympic-womens-soccer-colombia-paris-2024-july-31-1.7280622 |title=Gilles plays hero again as Canada beats Colombia, earning improbable quarterfinal berth |last=Strong |first=Gregory |work=CBC Sports|date=July 31, 2024|access-date=July 31, 2024}} After playing Germany to a scoreless draw in the quarter-final match, they were ousted from the tournament on penalties.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/soccer/canada-olympic-womens-soccer-germany-quarterfinal-august-3-1.7284661 |title=Defending champ Canada falls on penalties to Germany in women's soccer quarterfinal |last=Strong |first=Gregory |work=CBC Sports|date=August 3, 2024|access-date=August 4, 2024}} After an external investigation, Priestman, Mander, and Lombardi were officially fired for their role in the drone scandal.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-12 |title=Bev Priestman fired as Canada women's soccer coach after review of Olympic drone scandal |url=https://apnews.com/article/canada-women-soccer-drones-bev-priestman-fired-3325532a1b1c9f8b6c345506020be3ce |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=AP News |language=en}}

In January 2025, Casey Stoney was named as the new head coach.{{cite news |last1=Davidson |first1=Neil |title=Former England captain Casey Stoney named head coach of Canadian women's soccer team |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/soccer/casey-stoney-canada-national-womens-head-coach-1.7429624 |access-date=13 January 2025 |agency=The Canadian Press |publisher=CBC}}

{{main|Canada women's national soccer team results}}{{Further|2024 in Canadian soccer}}The following is a list of match results in the last twelve months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

;Legend

{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFCCCC|Lose|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFFF|Fixture|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = June 1

| time = 2:00PM ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 2–0

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national/matches/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=4801

| team2 = {{fbw|MEX}}

| goals1 =

• Leon {{goal|73}}
• Lacasse {{goal|86}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stade Saputo

| location = Montréal, Québec

| attendance = 15,319

| referee = Alyssa Nichols (United States)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = June 4

| time = 7:30PM ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 1–1

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national/matches/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=4802

| team2 = {{fbw|MEX}}

| goals1 =

• Buchanan {{goal|48}}

| goals2 =

• Ovalle {{goal|70}}

| stadium = BMO Field

| location = Toronto, Ontario

| attendance = 18,805

| referee = Marianela Araya (Costa Rica)

| result = D

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Unofficial Friendly

| date = July 13

| time = 21:00 UTC+02:00

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|AUS}}

| score = 1–2

| report = https://www.matildas.com.au/news/commbank-matildas-defeated-2-1-b-international-against-canada

| team2 = {{fbw|CAN}}

| goals1 =

• Freier {{goal|23}}

| goals2 =

• Prince {{goal|41}}
• Viens {{goal|85}}

| stadium =

| location = Marbella, Spain

| attendance = 0 (behind closed doors)

| referee =

| result = W

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Unofficial Friendly

| date = July 17

| time =

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|NGA}}

| score = 0–1

| report = https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/article/canada-soccer-withholds-result-of-womens-olympic-tune-up-against-nigeria/

| team2 = {{fbw|CAN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Huitema {{goal}}

| stadium =

| location = Marbella, Spain

| attendance = 0 (behind closed doors)

| referee =

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Olympics GS

| date = July 25

| time = 11:00 ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 2–1

| report = https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/509/286068/286069/400015666

| team2 = {{fbw|NZL}}

| goals1 =

• Lacasse {{goal|45+4}}
• Viens {{goal|79}}

| goals2 =

• Barry {{goal|13}}

| stadium = Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

| location = Saint-Étienne, France

| attendance = 2,674

| referee = Tess Olofsson (Sweden)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Olympics GS

| date = July 28

| time = 15:00 ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|FRA}}

| score = 1–2

| report = https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/509/286068/286069/400015667

| team2 = {{fbw|CAN}}

| goals1 =

• Katoto {{goal|42}}

| goals2 =

• Fleming {{goal|58}}
• Gilles {{goal|90+12}}

| stadium = Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

| location = Saint-Étienne, France

| attendance =

| referee = Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Olympics GS

| date = July 31

| time = 15:00 ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|COL}}

| score = 0–1

| report = https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/509/286068/286069/400015671

| team2 = {{fbw|CAN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Gilles {{goal|61}}

| stadium = Stade de Nice

| location = Nice, France

| attendance =

| referee = Rebecca Welch (Great Britain)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Olympics QF

| date = August 3

| time = 13:00 ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 0–0

| aet = yes

| report = https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/509/286068/286074/400015686

| team2 = {{fbw|GER}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| penaltyscore=2–4

| penalties1 =

• Quinn {{pengoal}}
• Lawrence {{penmiss}}
• Leon {{penmiss}}
• Beckie {{pengoal}}

| penalties2 =

• {{pengoal}} Gwinn
• {{pengoal}} Minge
• {{penmiss}} Lohmann
• {{pengoal}} Rauch
• {{pengoal}} Berger

| stadium = Stade de Marseille

| location = Marseille, France

| attendance =

| referee = Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)

| result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = October 25

| time = 4:00PM ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|ESP}}

| score = 1–1

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=5884

| team2 = {{fbw|CAN}}

| goals1 =

• Martín-Prieto {{goal|89}}

| goals2 =

• Alidou {{goal|49}}

| stadium = Estadio Francisco de la Hera

| location = Almendralejo, Spain

| attendance = 10,500

| referee = Ewa Augustyn (Poland)

| result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = November 29

| time = 1:00PM ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 0–0

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=5890

| team2 = {{fbw|ISL}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Pinatar Arena

| location = San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain

| attendance =

| referee = Zuzana Valentová (Slovakia)

| result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = December 3

| time = 12:00PM ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 5–1

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-past/?matchId=5891#newsfeed_section

| team2 = {{fbw|KOR}}

| goals1 = Lim {{goal|22|o.g.}}
Alidou {{goal|52}}
Smith {{goal|58}}
Gilles {{goal|78}}
Leon {{goal|90+2}}

| goals2 = Lee {{goal|76}}

| stadium = Pinatar Arena

| location = San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain

| attendance = 25

| referee = Zuzana Valentová (Slovakia)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Pinatar Cup

| date = February 19

| time = 1:00PM ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 1–1

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=5927

| team2 = {{fbw|CHN}}

| goals1 =

• Grosso {{goal|16}}

| goals2 =

• Jin Kun {{goal|58}}

| stadium = Pinatar Arena

| location = San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain

| attendance = 50

| referee = Katalin Sipos (Hungary)

| result = D

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Pinatar Cup

| date = February 22

| time = 1:00PM ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 2–0

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=5994

| team2 = {{fbw|MEX}}

| goals1 =

• Gilles {{goal|51}}
• Leon {{goal|89}}

| goals2 = *{{sent off|2|7|40}} Mejía

| stadium = Pinatar Arena

| location = San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain

| attendance = 100

| referee = Katalin Sipos (Hungary)

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Pinatar Cup

| date = February 25

| time = 1:00PM ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|TPE}}

| score = 0–7

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=5995

| team2 = {{fbw|CAN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Alidou {{Goal|4||14|pen.|33}}
• Huitema {{Goal|26||48|pen.}}
• Reid {{Goal|45+1}}
• Larisey {{Goal|75}}

| stadium = Pinatar Arena

| location = San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain

| attendance =

| referee = Seth Sheehan-Galia (England)

| result = w

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = April 4

| time = 19:30 PT

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 3–0

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=6034

| team2 = {{fbw|ARG}}

| goals1 =

• J. Rose {{goal|24}}
• Prince {{goal|39}}
• Grosso {{goal|87}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = BC Place

| location = Vancouver, British Columbia

| attendance =

| referee = Natalie Simon (United States)

| result = w

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = April 8

| time = 19:00 PT

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|CAN}}

| score = 0–1

| report = https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=6035

| team2 = {{fbw|ARG}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Rodríguez {{goal|34}}
• {{red card|77|77}} Pereyra

| stadium = Starlight Stadium

| location = Langford, British Columbia

| attendance =

| referee = Katja Koroleva (United States)

| result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = July 2

| time = 19:30 ET

| team1 = {{fbw-rt|USA}}

| score =

| report =

| team2 = {{fbw|CAN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Audi Field

| location = Washington, D.C., United States

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{main|List of Canada women's international soccer players}}

The following players were named to the squad for the friendlies against {{fbw|ARG}} on April 4 and 8.

Caps and goals are current as of April 8, 2025 after the match against {{fbw|ARG}}.

{{nat fs g start}}

{{nat fs g player|no=1|pos=GK|name={{sortname|Kailen|Sheridan}}|age={{birth date and age|1995|7|16}}|caps=58|goals=0|club=San Diego Wave|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=18|pos=GK|name={{sortname|Sabrina|D'Angelo}}|age={{Birth date and age|1993|5|11}}|caps=20|goals=0|club=Aston Villa|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=22|pos=GK|name={{sortname|Lysianne|Proulx}}|age={{Birth date and age|1999|4|17}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Juventus|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=4|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Shelina|Zadorsky}}|age={{birth date and age|1992|10|24}}|caps=109|goals=6|club=West Ham United|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=8|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Jayde|Riviere}}|age={{birth date and age|2001|01|22}}|caps=50|goals=1|club=Manchester United|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=10|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Ashley|Lawrence}}|age={{birth date and age|1995|06|11}}|caps=146|goals=8|club=Chelsea|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=12|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Jade|Rose}}|age={{Birth date and age|2003|2|12}}|caps=28|goals=1|club=Harvard Crimson|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=14|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Vanessa|Gilles}}|age={{birth date and age|1996|03|11}}|caps=51|goals=8|club=Lyon|clubnat=FRA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=20|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Ella|Ottey}}|age={{birth date and age|2005|8|12}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Wisconsin Badgers|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=21|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Gabrielle|Carle}}|age={{birth date and age|1998|10|12}}|caps=55|goals=1|club=Washington Spirit|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=25|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Emma|Regan}}|age={{birth date and age|2000|1|28}}|caps=8|goals=0|club=AFC Toronto|clubnat=CAN}}

{{nat fs g player|no=28|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Bianca|St-Georges}}|age={{birth date and age|1997|7|28}}|caps=13|goals=0|club=Utah Royals|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=5|pos=MF|name={{sortname||Quinn|dab=soccer}}|age={{birth date and age|1995|8|11}}|caps=106|goals=6|club=Vancouver Rise|clubnat=CAN}}

{{nat fs g player|no=7|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Julia|Grosso}}|age={{birth date and age|2000|8|29}}|caps=72|goals=5|club=Chicago Red Stars|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=13|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Kayla|Briggs}}|age={{birth date and age|2005|07|05}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Michigan State Spartans|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=17|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Jessie|Fleming}}|other=captain|age={{birth date and age|1998|3|11}}|caps=143|goals=20|club=Portland Thorns|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=26|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Marie-Yasmine|Alidou}}|age={{birth date and age|1995|4|28}}|caps=10|goals=5|club=Portland Thorns|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=32|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Carly|Wickenheiser}}|age={{birth date and age|1997|3|6}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Häcken|clubnat=SWE}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=6|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Deanne|Rose}}|age={{birth date and age|1999|03|03}}|caps=88|goals=11|club=Leicester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=15|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Nichelle|Prince}}|age={{birth date and age|1995|2|19}}|caps=107|goals=17|club=Kansas City Current|clubnat=USA|}}

{{nat fs g player|no=16|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Janine|Sonis}}|age={{birth date and age|1994|8|20}}|caps=116|goals=36|club=Racing Louisville|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=19|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Adriana|Leon}}|age={{birth date and age|1992|10|2}}|caps=126|goals=42|club=San Diego Wave|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=30|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Nyah|Rose}}|age={{birth date and age|2005|4|4}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=SMU Mustangs|clubnat=USA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=33|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Holly|Ward|dab=soccer}}|age={{birth date and age|2003|10|25}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Vancouver Rise|clubnat=CAN}}

{{nat fs g end}}

The following players have also been called up within the last twelve months.

{{nat fs r start}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Janet|Okeke}}|age={{birth date and age|2006|3|1}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=NC State Wolfpack|clubnat=USA|latest=v. {{fbw|ISL}}; November 29, 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Kadeisha|Buchanan}}|age={{birth date and age|1995|11|5}}|caps=154|goals=6|club=Chelsea|clubnat=ENG|latest=v. {{fbw|ESP}}; October 25, 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Sydney|Collins}}|age={{birth date and age|1999|9|8}}|caps=6|goals=0|club=North Carolina Courage|clubnat=USA|latest=2024 Summer Olympics ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name={{sortname|Megan|Reid}}|age={{birth date and age|1996|7|9}}|caps=3|goals=1|club=Angel City|clubnat=USA|latest=v. {{fbw|TPE}}; February 25, 2025}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Jeneva|Hernandez Gray}}|age={{birth date and age|2006|10|5}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Sporting CP|clubnat=POR|latest=v. {{fbw|KOR}}; December 3, 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Desiree|Scott}} ^RET|age={{birth date and age|1987|7|31}}|caps=187|goals=0|club=Ottawa Rapid|clubnat=CAN|latest=2024 Summer Olympics}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Simi|Awujo}}|age={{birth date and age|2003|09|23}}|caps=22|goals=1|club=Manchester United|clubnat=ENG|latest=v. {{fbw|TPE}}; February 25, 2025}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Samantha|Chang|dab=soccer}}|age={{birth date and age|2000|7|13}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Vancouver Rise|clubnat=CAN|latest=v. {{fbw|TPE}}; February 25, 2025}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name={{sortname|Olivia|Smith|dab=soccer}}|age={{birth date and age|2004|8|5}}|caps=16|goals=3|club=Liverpool|clubnat=ENG|latest=v. {{fbw|ARG}}; April 4, 2025 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Cloé|Lacasse}}|age={{Birth date and age|1993|7|7}}|caps=39|goals=6|club=Utah Royals|clubnat=USA|latest=v. {{fbw|ESP}}; October 25, 2024 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Jordyn|Huitema}}|age={{birth date and age|2001|5|8}}|caps=88|goals=23|club=Seattle Reign|clubnat=USA|latest=v. {{fbw|TPE}}; February 25, 2025}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Evelyne|Viens}}|age={{birth date and age|1997|2|6}}|caps=38|goals=6|club=Roma|clubnat=ITA|latest=v. {{fbw|ARG}}; April 4, 2025 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name={{sortname|Clarissa|Larisey}}|age={{birth date and age|1999|7|2}}|caps=12|goals=2|club=Crystal Palace|clubnat=ENG|latest=v. {{fbw|ARG}}; April 4, 2025 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs end}}

• {{small|ALT}} = Alternate
• {{small|PRE}} = Preliminary squad
• {{small|PRO}} = Provisional roster
• {{small|RET}} = Retired from the national team
• {{small|INJ}} = Withdrew due to injury

{{updated|January 13, 2025|}}{{Fb cs header}}

{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head coach |s={{flagicon|ENG}} Casey Stoney}}

{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant coach |s={{flagicon|CAN}} Melissa Tancredi}}

{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Goalkeeping coach |s={{flagicon|ENG}} Jen Hurst}}

{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Performance analyst |s=vacant}}

{{Fb cs footer|date=November 2024}}

{{See also|Category:Canada women's national soccer team managers}}

{{Main|List of Canada women's international soccer players}}

{{updated|April 8, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/canadasoccer/docs/20191231_canada_records_results|title=Canada Soccer Records & Results|website=canadasoccer.com|date=December 31, 2019 |access-date=January 17, 2020}}

:Players in bold are still active with the national team.

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

{{Col-break}}

{{col-end}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

{{Col-break}}

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{{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Champions  {{Color box|silver|border=darkgray}} Runners-up  {{Color box|#cc9966|border=darkgray}} Third place  {{legend-inline|white|border=3px solid red;}} Tournament played fully or partially on home soil  

{{main article|Canada at the FIFA Women's World Cup}}

:*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

File:Canadá vence o Brasil no futebol feminino, na Rio 2016 (28807779570).jpg

:*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

:*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

:*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

:*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted in Portugal.

The Arnold Clark Cup was a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted in England.

The Cyprus Women's Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted in Cyprus.

The Four Nations Tournament is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted in China.

The Pinatar Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted in Spain.

The SheBelieves Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted in the United States.

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• International Women's Football Tournament
• 2010 Image:Med 1.png Champions
• 2013 Image:Med 3.png Third Place
• 2015 Image:Med 2.png Runners-up
• Yongchuan International Tournament
• 2019 Image:Med 3.png Third place{{col-break}}

{{col-break|gap=2em}}

{{col-break|gap=2em}}{{col-end}}

;Key

{{legend|#CCFFCC|Positive balance (more wins than losses)|border=1px solid #AAA}}

{{legend|#FFFFCC|Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)|border=1px solid #AAA}}

{{legend|#FFDACC|Negative balance (more losses than wins)|border=1px solid #AAA}}The following table shows Canada's all-time official international record per opponent:{{updated|April 8, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://canadasoccer.com/index.php?t=search2&tab=matches&tournament_name=+&national_team=2070&opponent=&match_location=&year_from=0&year_to=0&match_month=0&match_date=0&goals_scored=-1&goals_allowed=-1&attendance=-1|title=Full Schedule & Results|publisher=canadasoccer.com|access-date=June 24, 2019}}

{{See also|FIFA Women's World Rankings}}

{{Image frame

| caption=A line chart depicting the history of Canada's year-end placements in the FIFA World Rankings.

| content = {{Graph:Chart

| width=400

| height=200

| colors=#EF3340

| type=line

| xAxisAngle = -40

| yAxisMin = 20

| yAxisMax = 1

| yGrid =

| x=2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

| y=11, 11, 13, 11, 9, 11, 12, 9, 7, 7, 7, 9, 11, 4, 5, 5, 8, 8

}}

}}

Last update was on March 6, 2025{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/can|title=Canada in the FIFA World Ranking|access-date=July 12, 2022}}

{{Color box|blue|border=darkgray}} Best Ranking  

{{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Worst Ranking  

{{Color box|green|border=darkgray}} Biggest Climb  

{{Color box|red|border=darkgray}} Biggest Fall  

• Olympic Games
• 16px Gold medallist (1): 2020
• {{Bronze3}} Bronze medallist (2): 2012, 2016
• CONCACAF Women's Championship
• {{gold1}} Champions (2): 1998, 2010
• {{silver2}} Runners-up (6): 1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022

• Pan American Games
• {{gold01}} Gold medallist (1): 2011
• {{silver02}} Silver medallist (1): 2003
• {{bronze03}} Bronze medallist (1): 2007

• Canada men's national soccer team
• Canada women's national under-20 soccer team
• Canada women's national under-17 soccer team
• Canada girls' national under-15 soccer team
• Canada women's national futsal team
• Soccer in Canada

{{Reflist|2}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/associations/CAN FIFA profile]
• [https://canadasoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20231231_pdf_canada_records_results_resultats.pdf Canada Soccer records and results 2024]

{{Canada women's national soccer team}}

{{Navboxes

| titlestyle = background:red; color:white

| list1 =

{{Navboxes

| title=Canada squads – FIFA Women's World Cup

| bg=red

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| list1=

{{Canada squad 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Canada squad 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Canada squad 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Canada squad 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Canada squad 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Canada squad 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Canada squad 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{Canada squad 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

}}

{{Navboxes

| title=Canada squads – Summer Olympic Games

| bg=red

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{{Canada women's football squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}

{{Canada women's football squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}

{{Canada women's football squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}

{{Canada women's football squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}

{{Canada women's football squad 2024 Summer Olympics}}

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{{Canada women's national soccer team matches}}

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{{Soccer in Canada}}

{{CONCACAF women's teams}}

{{National sports teams of Canada}}

{{Navboxes

|title= Canada at the FIFA Women's World Cup

|list=

{{1995 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists}}

{{1999 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists}}

{{2003 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists}}

{{2007 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists}}

{{2011 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists}}

{{2015 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists}}

{{2019 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists}}

{{2023 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists}}

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{{CONCACAF W Championship winners}}

{{Summer Olympics football women's tournament winners}}

{{Algarve Cup Winners}}

{{Portal bar|Canada|Sports|Games|Association football|Women's association football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canada Women's National Soccer Team}}

Category:North American women's national association football teams

Category:Canadian Soccer Association