The 2023 FIFA World Cup is more than 10 months away, but the Canadian women’s team’s preparations begin in earnest this week.
Canada plays the first of two international friendlies versus Australia on Saturday at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. The two sides will meet again on Sept. 6 at Sydney’s new Allianz Stadium.
These games are very important for the reigning Olympic champions, as they’ll help them prepare and acclimatize for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to Aug. 20, 2023.
“This window is about us experiencing the conditions we will face next summer, particularly the significant travel and jet lag, which we will look to adapt and learn from,” Canadian coach Bev Priestman said. “It should be two incredible games that are only going to help us in our experience.”
Beyond getting used to the conditions, it’s also vitally important that Canada takes advantage of every international window between now and then to test itself against tough adversaries, the likes of which it could face at the World Cup. Australia fits that bill, as it sits No. 12 in the current FIFA world rankings, five spots below Canada.
Australia is also one of the few nations that has a winning record against Canada, as it leads the all-time series with seven wins and three draws in 16 meetings since their first game against each other on Dec. 12, 1997.
In their previous encounter, Canada earned a 2-0 victory during the group stage of the 2016 Rio Olympic tournament.
“I’ve scouted this Australian team well now for a few weeks, and they’re a top side, I’ve got to say. They look physical. They remind me of a U.S.-type [team], and we’ll have to defend well against them, and they’re a great defensive team, too,” Priestman stated.
Australia’s roster includes Chelsea forward Sam Kerr, who was the top scorer in England’s FA WSL last season, and finished third in voting for the 2021 Ballon d’Or Féminin, awarded to the best player in the world. Also named to the squad were defender Steph Catley and forward Caitlin Foord of Arsenal, and Manchester City defender Alanna Kennedy.
“She’s an absolute handful. … She’s a top player that we have to pay respect to,” Priestman said of Kerr.
