Canada secured a 2-1 victory over France on Saturday, claiming the top spot in Group D with their third consecutive win at the FIFA Women’s under-17 World Cup. Melisa Kekic found the net for Canada, giving them a 1-0 lead at halftime in Salé, Morocco. A second-half own goal by French defender Oceane Moreau Tranchant extended Canada’s lead before Lea Morissaint narrowed the gap to 2-1 for France.
However, Canada faced a setback when substitute Reed Tingley was sent off in the 86th minute after receiving a second yellow card from referee Lara Lee for obstructing a French player. Tingley had already been booked in the 64th minute for a tackle from behind.
Having previously defeated Nigeria 4-1 and Samoa 6-0, Canada and France were tied on points but Canada led on goal difference (plus-nine compared to plus-three). Both teams had secured spots in the knockout round, with France needing a win to overtake Canada in the group standings.
The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-place finishers, advance to the Round of 16 in the 24-team tournament, which concludes on November 8. By finishing on top of their group, Canada avoided facing Spain in the Round of 16, with France set to play against the Spanish team.
Canada’s best performance in the tournament was a fourth-place finish in 2018, having reached the quarterfinals in 2008, 2012, and 2014. The match saw Canada take an early lead through Kekic’s close-range goal in the 14th minute, following a corner. France had several opportunities to equalize, but Tingley’s involvement in creating an own goal by Moreau Tranchant proved decisive.
Canada received a total of five yellow cards in the match, while France received two cautions. The video support system was utilized for two yellow cards in the first half, resulting in penalties for Canada’s Naomi Lofthouse and France’s Stella Grondin. Canada’s coach made six changes to the starting lineup, continuing to rotate the squad throughout the tournament.
Despite missing out on the 2024 FIFA U-17 tournament, Canada had participated in the previous seven editions. The team qualified for the 2025 tournament by finishing unbeaten in the CONCACAF qualifying group. France qualified for the tournament by reaching the semifinals at the 2025 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship.
Notable past champions of the FIFA U-17 tournament include North Korea and Spain, with multiple titles and final appearances between them.