Canada dominated Zambia in the Round of 16 match at the FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup, securing a convincing 6-0 victory with three goals in each half. This win sets up a quarterfinal clash between Canada and Brazil. The winner of this match will advance to face either defending champion North Korea or 2014 winner Japan in the semifinals. Brazil secured their spot in the quarterfinals by defeating China 3-0 in their Round of 16 encounter.
Daniela Feria-Estrada netted two goals, while Melisa Kekic, Mya Angus, Chloe Taylor, and Amy Medley each added one goal for Canada. The goals showcased remarkable quality, although Kekic missed a penalty in the second half. Canada has been in stellar form, outscoring their opponents 18-2 in their four consecutive wins at the tournament.
Canada’s previous best performance in the U-17 championship was a fourth-place finish in 2018, where they were defeated by Mexico in the semifinals. The team also reached the quarterfinals in 2008, 2012, and 2014. Canada secured their spot in the knockout stage by finishing at the top of Group D, with victories over Nigeria, Samoa, and France. Zambia advanced as one of the top four third-place finishers in their group.
In other Round of 16 matches, France stunned Spain in a penalty shootout, Mexico edged past Paraguay 1-0, and Japan defeated Colombia 4-0. Zambia, despite a strong performance against New Zealand, struggled to break through against Canada’s solid defense.
Canada took the lead in the first half through a counterattack, with Kekic scoring the opener in the 13th minute. Feria-Estrada and Angus extended the lead with impressive goals before halftime. Despite a missed penalty by Kekic, Canada maintained their dominance throughout the match.
The game saw several contentious moments, including a penalty call that was upheld after a video review. Canada’s Taylor and Medley further increased the lead in the second half before Feria-Estrada sealed the victory with a beautiful free-kick goal. Canada outshot Zambia 12-10, with a significant advantage in shots on target.
Both teams displayed young talent, with Canada making one change to their lineup, and Zambia featuring 15-year-old defender Faith Kaunda. Zambia, the last African country in the tournament, showed promise but fell short against Canada’s strong performance.
Canada’s qualification journey for the 2025 tournament included topping their CONCACAF qualifying group earlier in the year. Led by interim head coach Gary Moody, the team secured their spot by defeating Nicaragua, Panama, and Puerto Rico. Zambia, on the other hand, failed to progress past the group stage in their previous U-17 championship appearances and qualified for the 2025 tournament by overcoming Tanzania and Benin in the African qualifiers.