Canada to face England in preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup

Canada have lined up another big test with a rematch against England ahead of this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. The two sides will meet Friday 5 April in Manchester at the Academy Stadium.

This will be the first international meeting between the two sides since the Quarter-final round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. England’s 2-1 victory led to their best-ever, third-place finish at a FIFA Women’s World Cup. Canada finished in sixth place at Canada 2015 before winning a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, making Canada the only soccer nation to reach the podium in back-to-back Women’s Olympic Tournaments from 2012 to 2016. Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team were also the first Canadian Olympic team to win back-to-back medals at a summer Olympic Games in more than a century.

“This will be an important match for us as we will have the chance to test ourselves against one of the best national teams in the world,” said Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “We are facing a tier-one opponent that are contenders to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

Canada opened their France 2019 campaign with a 1:0 victory over Norway in January. Up next, there will be a trio of matches at the 2019 Algarve Cup in Portugal before the away friendly on 5 April in England. In Portugal, Canada will face Iceland on 27 February and Scotland on 1 March before their ranking matches on 6 March.

In France this summer, Canada will face Cameroon on 10 June, New Zealand on 15 June, and Netherlands on 20 June. This marks Canada’s seventh-consecutive appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since Sweden 1995. Along with bronze medals at back-to-back Olympic Games, Canada’s best finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup was fourth place at USA 2003.

England and Canada were most recently ranked fourth and fifth in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Rankings, separated by just 15 points. In 2018, Canada’s international record was eight wins and four losses in 12 international matches. England, meanwhile, posted seven wins, three draws and two losses in 12 international matches.

“This year is all about preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, so we are eager to get together in Europe and continue the momentum we built throughout 2018,” said Heiner-Møller. “The April camp will help our preparations en route to peaking physically, tactically and mentally at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in June.”