Defender Sydney Collins has made a comeback from injury, joining goalkeeper Emily Burns, midfielder Florianne Jourde, and teenage forward Kaylee Hunter in earning their first senior call-ups for Canada’s upcoming FIFA October international matches. Coach Casey Stoney has announced a 24-player squad for the games against Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Collins, who last played for Canada in December 2023 against Australia, has faced injury setbacks recently. She suffered a fractured ankle in February 2024 during camp for the CONCACAF W Gold Cup and later broke her left leg before the 2024 Olympics. Collins was later traded to Bay FC from North Carolina for $60,000 US in 2025.
Burns, who plays for FC Nantes in France, has been nominated for the French league’s top goalkeeper award and has previously played for Dijon and Saint-Etienne. Jourde, a 20-year-old Canadian from Montreal, recently signed with Paris Saint-Germain after playing collegiate soccer at USC. Hunter, a 17-year-old forward from Calgary, has been in top form for AFC Toronto, scoring 14 goals and providing three assists this season.
Unfortunately, some familiar faces will miss out on the upcoming matches due to injuries, including goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx, defenders Kadeisha Buchanan and Vanessa Gilles, and midfielder Simi Awujo. Additionally, midfielder Kayla Briggs and forward Annabelle Chukwu are unavailable for selection by mutual agreement with their colleges.
Canada has a positive record against both Switzerland and the Netherlands, being unbeaten in five meetings with Switzerland and losing only once in 14 games against the Netherlands. The Canadian women are looking to bounce back after a recent 3-0 loss to the U.S. and will be aiming for strong performances in the upcoming fixtures.
Coach Stoney emphasized the need to reset and improve after the loss to the U.S., highlighting the importance of getting players into peak physical condition. The Canadian women are 6-2-1 under Stoney’s leadership, and they are gearing up for challenging matches against Switzerland and the Netherlands.