Canada secured a 2-1 victory over France on Saturday, claiming the top spot in Group D at the FIFA Women’s under-17 World Cup. Melisa Kekic and an own goal by French defender Oceane Moreau Tranchant contributed to Canada’s lead, although Lea Morissaint narrowed the score to 2-1 in the 63rd minute for France.
The match saw a tense moment when Canadian substitute Reed Tingley was given a red card in the 86th minute by referee Lara Lee for obstructing a French player during a throw-in. Tingley, who had assisted in Canada’s second goal, had received a yellow card earlier in the game for a tackle.
Despite being tied on points with France before the match, Canada’s superior goal difference placed them in the lead. Both teams had already secured spots in the knockout round. By finishing at the top of the group, Canada avoided facing Spain in the Round of 16.
Canada’s previous victories included a 4-1 win against Nigeria and a 6-0 win against Samoa. The team will now face a third-place finisher from Group B, E, or F in the upcoming match on Wednesday. France, on the other hand, will compete against Spain in the knockout stage.
Canada’s standout performance at the tournament was a fourth-place finish in 2018. The team took the lead in the 14th minute of the match against France, with Kekic scoring from close range after a corner. Despite France’s 21-8 shot advantage, Canada managed to secure the win.
During the game, Canada received five yellow cards, while France received two. Video reviews led to two yellow cards in the first half, one for Canada’s Naomi Lofthouse and another for France’s Stella Grondin. Canada’s coach, Jen Herst, made six changes to the starting lineup, demonstrating strategic rotation.
In previous tournaments, Canada had qualified for several editions but missed out on the 2024 FIFA U-17 event. On the other hand, France, a former U-17 champion, qualified for the tournament by reaching the semifinals at the 2025 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship.
