Canada Soccer will honour three of its most decorated players at a friendly match against Australia in Vancouver on December 5. Christine Sinclair, Sophie Schmidt and Erin McLeod, who have a combined 631 caps and 10 Olympic medals, will be celebrated for their contributions to the women’s national team.
Sinclair, the world’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 190 goals, announced her retirement from international soccer last week after a stellar 22-year career that saw her lead Canada to two Olympic bronze medals and a fourth-place finish at the 2003 World Cup. The 40-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., will play her final two games for Canada in her home province, starting with a match against Australia on December 1 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C.
Schmidt, a veteran midfielder with 205 caps, and McLeod, a goalkeeper with 118 caps, will also hang up their boots after the Vancouver game. Both players were part of Canada’s Olympic medal-winning teams in 2012 and 2016, as well as the 2015 World Cup squad that reached the quarter-finals on home soil. Schmidt, 33, scored 19 goals for Canada, while McLeod, 38, recorded 45 clean sheets.
Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis said the trio deserved a proper send-off for their remarkable achievements and their impact on the next generation of players.
“These three legends have given so much to our country and our sport, and we are grateful for their service and their legacy,” Bontis said in a statement. “They have inspired countless young Canadians to pursue their dreams and to follow in their footsteps.”
The friendly against Australia will be a rematch of the World Cup group stage game in June, when the Matildas defeated Canada 4-0 and ended their hopes of advancing to the knockout round. Australia went on to finish fourth at the tournament, losing to Sweden in the bronze-medal match and England in the semi-final.
Canada, ranked 10th in the world, will look to bounce back from that defeat and end the year on a high note under new coach Bev Priestman, who took over from Kenneth Heiner-Moller in October. Priestman, a former Canada Soccer youth and senior assistant coach, has named a 23-player roster for the two games against Australia, featuring 18 members of the World Cup squad and five newcomers.
Australia, ranked 11th, will begin its Olympic qualifying campaign in this month’s international window with games against Iran, the Philippines and Taiwan. Australia coach Tony Gustavsson has also selected a 23-player roster, with 21 players from the World Cup squad and two uncapped players.
The game in Vancouver will kick off at 2 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on CBC.
