Goalkeeper Lea Palacio and forward Esther Brossard have been selected to lead the Canadian team at the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup happening later this month in the Philippines. The tournament, which will take place from Nov. 21 to Dec. 7 in Pasig City, Metropolitan Manila, will see Canada competing in Group B against strong opponents such as Spain, Thailand, and Colombia.
Among the teams in the group, Spain stands out as the reigning champion of the UEFA Women’s Futsal Championship, while Thailand and Colombia have also demonstrated their prowess in regional competitions. However, Canada made a significant statement by clinching the CONCACAF W Futsal Championship earlier this year in Guatemala, securing their spot at the World Cup with a thrilling victory over Mexico in a penalty shootout.
Head coach Alexandre Da Rocha expressed pride in the team’s qualification and aims to maintain a high standard of performance at the upcoming tournament. Futsal, a fast-paced five-a-side indoor game played in two halves of 20 minutes each, allows for dynamic player substitutions during play.
The Canadian squad for the World Cup comprises 14 players, with key members including Lea Palacio, recognized as the Best Goalkeeper at the CONCACAF Championship, and Esther Brossard, who stood out as the Best Player with eight goals in the tournament. New additions to the roster are defender Katerine Delev and forward Magali Gagne.
Canada will kick off their World Cup campaign against Colombia on Nov. 22 before facing Thailand and Spain on Nov. 25 and Nov. 28, respectively. The team has had limited preparation time since qualifying, with only short camps held in August and October. To gear up for the competition, Canada will engage in warmup matches against Poland, the Philippines, and Argentina.
The tournament features a total of 16 teams divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage. Female futsal players have long advocated for greater recognition in the sport, with FIFA finally launching the Women’s Futsal World Cup this year. In contrast, the Men’s Futsal World Cup, which started in 1989, has seen defending champions Brazil dominate the competition.
Canada has a history of participation in men’s futsal tournaments but has not competed since the inaugural event in 1989. The team’s best performance in the CONCACAF Men’s Futsal Championship was reaching the quarterfinals in 2021 and 2024.
The Canadian roster for the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup includes Lea Palacio and Esther Brossard as goalkeepers and forwards, respectively, along with a talented lineup of defenders and wingers representing different cities and clubs across Canada.