Canadian under-17 women suffer injury setback on eve of FIFA U-17 World Cup

By Canadian Press on October 18, 2025.

Canada has suffered a blow on the eve of its opening match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, losing co-captain Emma Reda to injury.

The 16-year-old midfielder from Woodbridge, Ont., the daughter of former Canadian international Marco Reda, was hurt in training.

“She’s just gone in for a slide tackle — that’s Emma Reda, classic — she was trying to win the ball back, as she always does,” said Canada coach Jen Herst. “It’s just been an unfortunate one where her arm’s got caught in the ground and she fractured the ulna.”

The Canadians, who have called in Ottawa midfielder Felicia Hanisch as a replacement, were already missing the injured Reese Kay and Joelle Bader. Kaylee Hunter was called up by the Canadian senior side after AFC Toronto refused to release her for the U-17 championship.

The other co-captains in Morocco are defender Chloe Taylor and midfielder Olivia Chisholm.

After Nigeria, Canada continues Group D play against tournament newcomer Samoa on Oct. 22 and France on Oct. 25. All three matches are at the Football Academy Mohammed VI in Sale.

Herst is expecting a fast, physical challenge from the Africans.

“Very good in transition. Quite explosive players They like to shoot from distance,” Herst said by way of a scouting report.

Nigeria is led by striker Shakirat Moshood, who scored four goals at last year’s tournament — one shy of Golden Boot winner Pau Comendador of Spain.

The top two teams in each of the six groups, along with the four best third-place finishers, will advance to the round of 16.

“I’m confident we can get out of the group,” said Herst.

“You’ll see some exciting football from us,” she added. “And you’ll see the true Canadian spirit. … We think we can go far.”

The Group D winner will meet one of the third-place finishers in the round of 16 while the runner-up faces the Group E winner

Canada missed out on the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament but made the seven previous editions. Canada’s best showing was fourth in 2018. It made the quarterfinals in 2008, 2012 and 2014.

CONCACAF only sent two teams to the 2024 FIFA championship, with CONCACAF’s Dominican Republic hosting the tournament, and Canada finished third in qualifying after losing 2-1 to Mexico after extra time in the semifinal.

Led by interim coach Gary Moody, the young Canadian women qualified for the 2025 FIFA tournament in April, going unbeaten in topping its CONCACAF qualifying group by beating Nicaragua (5-0), Panama (2-0) and Puerto Rico (3-2).

Canada’s 10 goals at the tournament came from seven different players, with Hunter, Chisholm and Melisa Kekic scoring two apiece.

The Canadians prepared for the qualifiers with games at the U-17 Costa Cálida MIMA Cup in February in Spain, beating Scotland (3-0) and losing to England (2-0) and Sweden (3-1). In August, Canada went 1-0-2 at the 4 Nations Tournament in Mexico City, beating Costa Rica (2-0) and drawing the U.S. and Mexico (losing to the Americans while beating the Mexicans in the ensuing penalty shootouts).

After meeting in Montreal, the Canadians travelled to Casablanca to get accustomed to the Morocco heat and humidity.

“We are in a university location so there’s been a few challenges in terms of food and facilities where we’re sleeping and things … But nothing that has knocked the team’s spirit, that’s for sure,” Herst said. “They’re very together, very excited.”

The Canadians lost 4-1 to Ivory Coast in a pre-tournament friendly.

Defending champion North Korea has won the FIFA U-17 title three times and finished runner-up once while Spain has made the final four times, winning twice.

Nigeria has competed in seven of the eight previous tournaments and have made the quarterfinals four times including in 2024. The top seed in the 2025 African U-17 Women’s World Cup, the Nigerians qualified with wins over South Africa and Algeria.

France won the FIFA tournament in 2012, defeating North Korea in a penalty shootout. But it failed to get out of the first round in its two other trips to the event (2008 and 2022).

The French qualified this year by making the semifinals of the 2025 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship, losing to the eventual champion Dutch in a penalty shootout. Samoa booked its ticket by reaching the final of the 2024 OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, losing 4-0 to New Zealand.

The Canadian roster includes 15-year-old attacker Melyna Alexis from Mascouche, Que.

“An exciting prospect,” said Herst. “She’s fast, she’s technical. She’s left-footed, loves going on one-vs-ones down the left-hand side … One for the future.”

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Kadijah Cisse, Montreal, University of Kentucky (NCAA); Olivia Busby, Markham, Ont., Halifax Tides (NSL); Kylie Sandulak, Delta, B.C., Vancouver Rise FC Academy (NSL).

Defenders: Naomi Lofthouse, Ottawa, Ottawa South United SC; Mya Angus, Ottawa, NDC-CDN Ontario; Emma Donnelly, Toronto, NDC-CDN Ontario; Marika Martineau, Boischatel, Que., CF Montreal; Amy Medley, Montreal, CF Montreal; Bridget Mutipula, Halifax, Vancouver Rise (NSL); Chloe Taylor, North Vancouver, Vancouver Rise (NSL).

Midfielders: Julia Amireh, Raleigh, N.C., North Carolina Courage (NWSL); Olivia Chisholm, Toronto, AFC Toronto (NSL); Gabriela Istocki, Mississauga, Ont., NDC-CDN Ontario; Daniela Feria-Estrada, Calgary, Vancouver Rise FC Academy (NSL); Felicia Hanisch, Ottawa, Ottawa South United SC.

Forwards: Melisa Kekic, Hamilton, AFC Toronto (NSL); Alyssa McLeod, Ajax, Ont., NDC-CDN Ontario; Molly Hale, Ottawa, NDC-CDN Ontario; Melyna Alexis, Mascouche, Que., CF Montreal Academy; Lacey Kindel, Coquitlam, B.C., Vancouver Rise FC Academy (NSL); Reed Tingley, Atlanta, Concorde Fire.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press