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0:4 in the decisive game: Canada is the first reigning Olympic champion to fail in the preliminary round of the World Cup.
“I didn’t come here today with the thought that we would go home.” Canada’s head coach Bev Priestman couldn’t hide her disappointment after being knocked out in the preliminary round. “It hurts like hell at the moment, but we will learn from it.”
How it came about was particularly “hellish”: Starting the finals as a team among the extended group of favourites, the Canadians were humiliated 4-0 by co-hosts Australia. That wasn’t enough after the 0-0 draw against Nigeria and the mini-victory over outsiders Ireland. For the first time in the history of the Women’s World Cup, a reigning Olympic champion did not survive the subsequent World Cup group phase.
“Things have to change”
The 40-year-old Christine Sinclair, who has played more than 320 games in national dress since 2000, found clear words: “Our association – I think things have to change. We don’t have a professional league. We don’t offer players a way to break into the national team. If that’s not a wake-up call, I don’t know what it takes.”
Indeed, the worm has been in Canadian football for a long time. There is a distribution battle between the association, clubs and (national) players. Before the SheBelieves Cup in February, the players threatened to go on strike after the association had cut the budget for 2023 and made savings on training camps, among other things. A temporary agreement on the 2023 compensation could only be found a few days ago.
Controversial marketing deal
However, the association has itself to blame for the fact that Canada Soccer is so clammy: it sold the TV and sponsorship rights to a company owned by the league presidents. The 10-year contract, which was signed back in 2018, guarantees the association 3 million Canadian dollars a year, but is now worth an estimated 15 million.
Within weeks, 2023 association president Nick Bontis and general secretary Earl Cochrane resigned. Cochrane had had to trot before a parliamentary commission. There he admitted that the budget cuts for the national teams had been a mistake. However, his interim successor Jason deVos did not even rule out the possibility of the association going bankrupt.
Key games for Olympic qualification
Meanwhile, national coach Priestman looks to the future. In September, Canada will play two playoff games against Jamaica for the last place in the North and Central American Confederation. “Everyone says how crucial September will be.” So that Canadian women’s football can see the light at the end of the tunnel again.