Canada Soccer has announced the 24 players selected to represent the Women’s National Team (CANWNT) during the April FIFA window, as Canada competes in the FIFA Series 2026â„¢ in Cuiabá, Brazil, from April 9 to April 18.
The FIFA Series brings together national teams from all six confederations, offering international clashes rarely featured on the global calendar while contributing to the growth of the game internationally. The 2026 edition brings together 50 nations divided into 13 groups, with competitions organized in 12 countries. Matches ending in a tie will be followed directly by a penalty shootout, without extra time. In each group, a member association will be chosen as the winner. This participant-led format, approved by FIFA, aims to increase the competitiveness of fixtures, boost fan engagement and provide all teams with meaningful international opportunities.
Canada, currently 9th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, will face Zambia (66th), the Republic of Korea (19th) and host nation Brazil (8th) in the group stage. All matches will be played at the Arena Pantanal, in Cuiabá. Canada will begin its journey against Zambia on April 11 (3 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT), before facing the Republic of Korea on April 14 (3 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT), then concluding against Brazil on April 18 (9:30 p.m. local / 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT).
The head coach Casey Stoney has selected a group that builds on the continuity established earlier this year, with 18 players returning from the SheBelieves Cup. In particular, the experienced defender Kadeisha Buchanan makes an anticipated return to the team for the first time since October 2024, after a prolonged absence due to injury, bringing with her over 150 international caps. The guardian Sabrina D’Angelothe defender Jayde Rivers and the attacker Olivia Smith are also making their return after missing the February window due to injuries.
“Being in Brazil, where the Women’s World Cup will be held in 2027, makes this period particularly valuable for us. This is an opportunity to step out of our comfort zone, adapt to the conditions and learn important things as a team. This competition will test us in three different ways against three distinct opponents, and we can’t wait to see how we respond as we continue to build the team we want to be. HAS”
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​– Casey Stoneyentreîneure-chef of the national féminine team
Canada and Brazil have a long history, having faced each other 32 times. The record between the two nations is very balanced, with 11 victories, 10 draws and 11 defeats. The most recent confrontation took place at the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, where Canada initially drew before winning on penalties.
Facing the Republic of Korea, Canada has a record of 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss since their first meeting in 2000. The two teams last met in December 2024, when Canada won 5-1 in Murcia, Spain.
The match against Zambia will mark a first meeting between the two nations.
Sélection du CANWNT
For this series, the goalkeepers selected are Melissa Dagenais de Ottawa Rapid FC, Sabrina D’Angelo by Aston Villa Women et Kailyn Sheridan from North Carolina Courage.
In defense, the group includes Kadeisha Buchanan de Chelsea FC, Sydney Collins et Brooklyn Courtnall de Bay FC, Vanessa Gilles de FC Bayern Munich, Ashley Lawrence from OL Lyonnes, Jayde Rivers de Manchester United WFC, Jade Rose de Manchester City WFC et Janine Sonis de Denver Summit FC.
In the midfield, we find Marie-Yasmine Alidou et Jessie Fleming de Portland Thorns FC, Community Breathing de Manchester United WFC, Julia Grosso de Chicago Red Stars, Kaylee Hunter from AFC Toronto, Emma Regan of Denver Summit FC and Carly Wickenheiser from North Carolina Courage.
In attack, Annabelle Chukwu from University of Notre Dame, Cloé Lacasse of Utah Royals FC, Delaney Very Pridham de Ottawa Rapid FC, Nichelle Prince de Boston Legacy FC, Olivia Smith of Arsenal WFC and Evelyne Viens de AS Roma complètent la sélection.
Gabrielle Carle de Washington Spirit, Jordyn Huitema de Chicago Red Stars, Adriana Leon of San Diego Wave FC, Lysianne Proulx de Ipswich Town FC, Holly Ward the Seattle Reign FC et Shelina Zadorsky of West Ham United FC were unavailable due to injuries.
CANWNT (A-Z)
​Player | Pronouns | Age | Town where she grew up| Notable youth clubs
​Alidou, Marie-Yasmine | she/elle | 30 | Saint-Hubert, QC, CAN | CS Spatial Saint-Hubert
​Society, Relax | she/he | 22 | Atlanta, GA, USA | AFC Lightning
​Buchanan, Kadeisha | she/elle | 30 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brams United SC ​ ​
​Chukwu, Annabelle | she/elle | 19 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa South United SC ​
​Collins, Sydney | she/elle | 26 | Beaverton, OR, USA | Hillsboro SC
​Courtnall, Brooklyn | she/her | 23 | Los Angeles, CA, USA | AYSO
​Dagenais, Melissa | she/elle | ​25 | Saint-Hubert, QC, CAN | CS St-Hubert –
​D’Angelo, Sabrina | she/elle | 32 | Welland, ON, CAN | Welland SC Wizards ​
​Fleming, Jessie | she/elle | 28 | London, ON, CAN | Nor’West Optimist SC
​Gilles, Vanessa | she/elle | 30 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa Capital United SC
​Grosso, Julia | she/elle | 25 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | Vancouver’s Italian Canadian SF
​Hunter, Kaylee | she/elle | 18 | Calgary, AB, CAN | Calgary West FC, Calgary Blizzard SC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
​Lacasse, Cloé | she/elle | 32 | Sudbury, ON, CAN | AFC Sudbury
​Lawrence, Ashley | she/elle | 30 | Caledon East, ON, CAN | Brams United SC ​ ​
​Pridham, Delaney Baie | she/elle 28 | Saratoga, CA, USA | De Anza Force SC
​Prince, Nichelle | she/elle | 31 | Ajax, ON, CAN | Ajax SC ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​Regan, Emma | she/elle | 26 | Burnaby, BC, CAN | Burnaby Girls SC ​
​Riviere, Jayde | she/elle | 25 | Markham, ON, CAN | West Rouge SC ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​Rose, Jade | she/elle | 23 | Markham, ON, CAN | Markham SC ​ ​ ​ ​
​Sheridan, Kailen | she/elle | 29 | Whitby, ON, CAN | Pickering SC ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​Smith, Olivia | she/elle | 21 | Whitby, ON, CAN | Whitby Iroquois SC ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​Sonis, Janine | she/elle | 31 | Highlands Ranch, CO, USA | Real Colorado ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​Come, Evelyne | she/elle | 28 | L’Ancienne-Lorette, QC, CAN | AS Mistral Laurentian
​Wickenheiser, Carly | she/elle | 28 | St. Louis, MO, USA | St. Louis Scott Gallagher
