The Road to Rio is set for Canada’s women’s national team.
The draw for the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, which determines the region’s two Olympic berths, was held earlier today and Canada was drawn into Group B alongside Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. Group A features the defending Olympic and World Cup champion U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the winner of Group A facing the runner-up in Group B and vice versa. Both teams that make the final will qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Canada won bronze at the last Olympics after suffering a heartbreaking and controversial defeat to the U.S. in the semifinal.
The Red and White will kick off the qualifying tournament against Guyana on February 11 at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium. The other host venue is Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
See the complete schedule below.
CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship 2016 Schedule
PT (Local Time)
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 – Toyota Stadium
3 p.m. (5 p.m.) Puerto Rico vs. Mexico
5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.) USA vs. Costa Rica
Thursday, February 11, 2016 – BBVA Compass Stadium
3 p.m. (5 p.m.) Guatemala vs. Trinidad & Tobago
5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.) Canada vs. Guyana
Saturday, February 13, 2016 – Toyota Stadium
10:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m.) Costa Rica vs. Puerto Rico
1 p.m. (3 p.m.) Mexico vs. USA
Sunday, February 14, 2016 – BBVA Compass Stadium
10:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m.) Guyana vs. Guatemala
1 p.m. (3 p.m.) Trinidad & Tobago vs. Canada
Monday, February 15, 2016 – Toyota Stadium
3 p.m. (5 p.m.) Mexico vs. Costa Rica
5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.) USA vs. Puerto Rico
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 – BBVA Compass Stadium
3 p.m. (5 p.m.) Trinidad & Tobago vs. Guyana
5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.) Canada vs. Guatemala
Friday, February 19, 2016 – BBVA Compass Stadium
2:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.) 1B vs. 2A
5:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.) 1A vs. 2B
Sunday, February 21, 2016 – BBVA Compass Stadium
2 p.m. (4 p.m.) Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2
CONCACAF reserves the right to change the time and order of matches
In preparation for the qualifying tournament, the Canadian women’s national team are off to Brazil next month for the International Tournament of Natal 2015.
“The tournament in Brazil is part of the assessment phase, so we will be bringing in a lot of young players in November, and through into the tournament in Brazil in December,” said Canada head coach John Herdman. “We know a lot about the players that have been with the team in the past, so some of the players coming to Brazil will be those we need to learn a little bit more about as we look to keep improving the team for Rio.”
Canada will compete against Brazil, Mexico and Croatia in the Natal tournament beginning on December 9. The following players have been called into Canada’s camp ahead of the tournament.
GK- Sabrina D'Angelo | USA / Sky Blue FC
GK- Stephanie Labbé | CAN /
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash
CB- Shelina Zadorsky | SWE / Vittsjö GIK
FB- Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash
FB- Kennedy Faulknor | CAN / Unionville Milliken SC
FB- Rhian Wilkinson | USA / Portland Thorns FC
M- Diana Matheson | USA / Washington Spirit
M- Deanne Rose | CAN / Scarborough GS United
M- Sophie Schmidt | GER / FFC Frankfurt
F- Gabrielle Carle | CAN / Dynamo de Québec
F- Summer Clarke | USA / Louisiana State University
F- Marie Levasseur | USA / University of Memphis
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
F- Melissa Tancredi | USA / Chicago Red Stars
In addition, the following players currently competing in NCAA play may enter the camp and competition dependant on the results of their current season:
- Janine Beckie | USA / Texas Tech
- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / West Virginia U.
- Ashley Lawrence | USA / West Virginia Univ.
- Nichelle Prince | CAN / Toronto Lady Lynx
- Rebecca Quinn | USA / Duke University
