Canada

Canada qualified for the Gold Cup as CONCACAF Olympic play-off winners, making them the first team to officially join hosts USA. The Canadians have a strong a footballing pedigree having won Gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. 

What to expect

Ranked 10th in world football, they will be looking to justify that placement after a disappointing World Cup campaign that saw them bomb out of the competition in the group stage courtesy of a 4-0 thrashing from hosts Australia.

Since then, the Canucks have recovered strongly with back-to-back wins versus Jamaica, followed by a tense duo of games versus Brazil and a 6-0 aggregate statement victory over the same Australia team that embarrassed them five months prior.

Canada have been placed in Group C alongside Costa Rica, Paraguay and a  Prelims winner – which a team of their calibre should glide through with little resistance. Key word: should.

They enter the tournament in red-hot form having dismantled some of the top teams in world football in the buildup to the competition. That said, USA in particular could prove to be a much sterner test, especially on home soil and eager to patch up their reputation as the world’s best.

Star players

Chelsea defensive duo Ashley Lawrence and Kadeisha Buchanan could be the key to Canada’s success in the W Gold Cup, as the side looks to recover from losing talisman striker Christine Sinclair after she retired in the new year.

Kadeisha Buchanan is an exceptional passing centre back and thrives in teams that control the majority of possession. She has struggled for game time at Chelsea this season in the WSL but has been a standout defender in the Women’s Champions League- she played five games, winning four, drawing one and conceding only three goals.

Ashley Lawrence, meanwhile, has been a mainstay in the Chelsea team that is on its way to a fifth straight league title. Lawrence offers excellence in distribution and carrying the ball and has been a key part of her team’s success this season after signing from PSG in the summer. That being said, she is defensively weak and will need a strong centre half like Buchanan behind her if she is to properly thrive in this tournament.

Canada’s defensive strength has been a key takeaway from the buildup to the tournament, conceding twice across six games versus tough opposition Jamaica’s Kadeja Shaw, Brazil’s Debinha and Australia’s Sam Kerr.

Manager

Beverly ‘Bev’ Priestman

The English manager rose through the ranks at Canada’s youth setup, and after a brief trip to manage England U17s, returned to assume the position as head coach of Canada’s first team. Since her unveiling as Canada manager in October 2020, Priestman has secured a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic games – a huge achievement for herself and the team.

Despite the World Cup disappointment, Priestman is a valued member of the Canada setup and her position as head coach was never in real jeopardy. Regardless, this is her opportunity to make a statement across the continent.

Schedule

Canada v CONCACAF Prelims winner 2 – February 22nd – Shell Energy Stadium

Paraguay v Canada – February 25th – Shell Energy Stadium

Canada v Costa Rica – February 28th – Shell Energy Stadium

Squad