Concacaf teams face final tests before Women’s World Cup

MIAMI, Florida – With just under 100 days to go before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the six participating national teams from Concacaf had their final camps before the biggest tournament in women’s football in Australia/New Zealand this summer.

The Canadian Women’s National Team traveled to France to have their last match before going to the World Cup as the Olympic Champions and narrowly fell 2-1 to France on Tuesday evening. France scored first the first two goals in the 51’ and in the 64’ thanks to the services of Grace Geyoro and Lea Le Garrec, however, Jordyn Huitema pulled one back in the 71’ for Canada, intercepting the ball and firing into net.

Current World Champions United States were at home to show what they’ll bring to Australia/New Zealand in July, facing the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and Wednesday and winning both times. The first match ended 2-0, with Emily Fox scoring the first one in the 37’, and Lindsey Horan closing the game in the 80’ via penalty kick. In the second game the U.S. won again, 1-0, with the only goal of the evening coming from Alana Cook in the 43’.

Costa Rica saw action in this international window last Thursday and again on Tuesday, facing Poland and Scotland. In the first match, La Sele were defeated 2-1, with Raquel Rodriguez scoring the Ticas’ only goal of the match in the 79’. In the second match they also saw defeat, against Scotland, the score ending 4-0 for the Europeans.

Women’s World Cup first-timers Panama had preparation games against the Dominican Republic on home soil, with Las Canaleras coming out on top both times. The first match last Thursday saw Panama claim a 1-0 win with a goal by Hilary Jaen in the 66’. In the second match, the team showed resilience and why they got one of the last tickets to the biggest tournament in the sport, winning 4-3. The goals came from captain Marta Cox with a free kick in the 10’, a header from Lineth Cedeno in the 57’, Erika Hernandez in the 87’ and the last one in second half stoppage time in the 90’+4 from Karla Riley.

The other team doing prep work for their first ever Women’s World Cup campaign was Haiti. Last Friday they faced Nigeria, with the African side winning 2-1. The lone goal of the evening for Les Grenadieres came from rising star Melchie Dumornay. The second match was last Monday and saw Haiti down the visitors 3-1, the Haiti goals coming from Roseline Eloissaint in the 27’, an own goal in the 45+1,‘ and Shwendesky Joseph in the 57’. 

Jamaica were in England during the break in their Women’s World Cup ramp-up and earned a 2-0 victory against club side Sheffield United. Second half goals from Chantelle Swaby via header and a composed finish from Cheyna Matthews gave the Reggae Girlz the win.