Canada have been drawn from a group including France, Nigeria and South Korea for the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup.
Posted at 5:09 p.m.
The 16-team tournament will take place in Costa Rica, San Jose and Alajuela, from August 10-28.
Canada was the final team in the draw, which was held at the Teatro Nacional along with Costa Rican soccer icons Shirley Cruz and Paulo Cesar.
Group C will present a great challenge for the Canadians. France have finished fourth, second and third in the last three appearances at the FIFA Championship and defeated Germany in the final of the European Women’s Under-19 Soccer Championship in 2019.
Nigeria, runners-up in 2010 and 2014, have made the knockout stage in seven of their last nine appearances at this tournament. South Korea finished third in 2010 and have reached the quarter-finals in two of their four tournament appearances.
The Canadian team qualified in March, when they beat Puerto Rico 2-0 in the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Soccer Championship third place match.
The Canadians missed their first attempt at World Cup qualification when they were defeated 1-0 by Mexico in the Concacaf semi-finals.
Canada had outscored their opponents 30-0 in their five straight victories at this tournament before facing the Mexicans.
Canadian Anna Karpenko was named the top goaltender of the tournament.