Canada emerged victorious against France in a 2-1 triumph on Saturday, securing the top spot in Group D with a perfect record at the FIFA Women’s under-17 World Cup. Melisa Kekic found the back of the net for Canada, giving them a 1-0 lead at halftime at the Football Academy Mohammed VI in Salé, Morocco. A second-half own goal by French defender Oceane Moreau Tranchant extended Canada’s lead. Despite a late push by France resulting in a goal by Lea Morissaint, Canada held on for the win.
The game saw a setback for Canada when substitute Reed Tingley received a red card in the 86th minute. Tingley, who played a crucial role in setting up Canada’s second goal, was shown a second yellow card by referee Lara Lee for impeding a French player during a throw-in attempt. Tingley’s first yellow card came in the 64th minute for a tackle.
Canada’s victory secured their position at the top of the group standings, having previously defeated Nigeria 4-1 and Samoa 6-0. Both Canada and France had already secured spots in the knockout round, with Canada edging ahead on goal difference to claim the group’s top spot.
By finishing first in the group, Canada avoided a Round of 16 match-up against Spain, the 2024 runner-up and 2018 and 2022 champion. France, with a 2-1-0 record, will face Spain (3-0-0) in the next round, while Canada will play against a third-place finisher from Group B, E, or F.
Canada’s historic performance at the tournament includes a fourth-place finish in 2018 and quarterfinal appearances in 2008, 2012, and 2014. The team took the lead in the 14th minute through Kekic’s close-range strike following a corner. Despite France’s efforts, including a near-goal by Stella Grondin and a counter-attack leading to an own goal by Moreau Tranchant, Canada held on for the win.
Yellow cards were abundant in the match, with Canada receiving five and France receiving two. Video reviews led to two yellow cards in the first half, one for Canada’s Naomi Lofthouse and the other for France’s Grondin. Canada’s coach, Jen Herst, made six changes to the starting lineup as part of ongoing roster rotation strategies.
Canada missed out on the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament but has a strong history in the competition, having participated in seven previous editions. The team’s qualification for the 2025 FIFA tournament was achieved under interim coach Gary Moody, securing a spot by remaining unbeaten in the CONCACAF qualifying group.
France, a former FIFA U-17 champion, reached the current tournament by advancing to the semifinals at the 2025 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship. The FIFA U-17 competition has seen multiple champions, with North Korea winning three titles and finishing as runners-up once, while Spain has reached the final four times, claiming victory twice.