ANALYSIS: CanWNT name first squad since 2024 Olympics ahead of October friendly vs. Spain
For the first time since the 2024 Summer Olympics, the CanWNT are back in action this month, as they get set to take on the defending World Cup champions, Spain, in a friendly.
Their first camp together since a tumultuous Olympic journey, which included an off-field scandal, a dramatic run to the quarter-finals and a heartbreaking ending, they’ll look to put that all behind them in this camp.
With the 2027 World Cup now sitting as their next main target, they’ll want to start focusing on preparing for that tournament, and the first step is earning a spot at the World Cup at the 2026 Concacaf W Championship.
But with that tournament not happening for another two years, Canada isn’t too focused on that quite yet. As a result, this window is a perfect place to start in that regard, as Canada will now get to test themselves against one of the best sides in the world, as they look to build off what they showed at the Olympics, in which they beat New Zealand, France and Colombia before falling to Germany on penalties.
Canada Soccer Announces CANWNT Roster and Interim Coaching Staff for upcoming October Friendly 🚨#CANWNT | @CIBC
— CANWNT (@CANWNT) October 16, 2024
To do that, they’ve called in 21 players ahead of that Spain friendly, which will be played on October 25th in Almendralejo, Spain. Here’s what stood out from that release.
Familiarity a key theme amid coaching chaos:
Naturally, with this being the start of a new cycle, it was going to be interesting to see if any new faces would be included in this squad, as moments like this one are usually seen as a perfect opportunity to freshen up a squad.
Especially with there being three years until the next major tournament, providing extra time to embed any new players, it was expected that Canada would call in some new faces for this window.
Despite that, however, they ended up calling in a squad with a lot of familiar names instead. In fact, of the 21 players they called in, 19 were in their Olympic squad - and the only two new faces they brought in, Emma Regan and Olivia Smith, have already been called into past Canadian camps.
To be fair, Smith was a no-brainer inclusion in this squad, having played a big role for Canada’s U20s at their recent participation at the 2024 U20 World Cup, and has scored two goals already for new club Liverpool since a move to the WSL side, so it’s a positive to see her included, while Regan has shown well in past Canadian appearances.
In terms of the three names that were missing from the Olympic squad, however, those were Desiree Scott, Quinn and Jayde Riviere, with two of them being because of injury (Quinn and Riviere), while Scott has played just 63 minutes for the KC Current since the Olympics.
With an interim staff, however, it was likely they didn't want to rock the boat, but no matter who ends up being hired long-term, it'd be good to start looking at some of those younger faces for next cycle
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) October 16, 2024
Now, it'll be interesting to see who starts vs🇪🇸 based on post Paris form
So overall, one can wonder if this squad might’ve been close to a carbon copy of the Olympic squad had Quinn and Riviere not been injured, which would’ve been a big surprise to see.
To be fair, it’s not as if Canada had a poor Olympics - despite their earlier-than-expected elimination, they emerged with three wins and a draw, scored more goals than they did during their run to the gold medal in 2021 and had some good stretches of play, but they’ll also feel they could refresh their squad as they look to take their next step as a team.
Given that they’ve got an aging roster, with 10 of their players who went to the Olympics sitting at 29 or older, meaning they’ll all be in their 30s by the next World Cup, this would’ve been a good opportunity to bring in some newer faces to push that older group.
At the same time, with this being a period of instability off the field amid Bev Priestman’s one-year suspension imposed by FIFA, the familiarity of this squad was probably by design. With no word yet on what Canada’s long-term plan might be for choosing a CanWNT head coach, they’ll perhaps want to keep things the way they are in terms of the squad before looking long-term.
The #CanWNT/#CanXNT roster is out for their October friendly vs Spain
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) October 16, 2024
Andy Spence remains as interim head coach - #VWFC's Katie Collar joins as an interim assistant, while Diana Matheson is also on the staff
21 players are called in - Olivia Smith, Emma Regan are the new faces https://t.co/Ckl9nZPQH0
When considering that, it puts pressure on them to figure out their coaching staff as soon as possible, because no matter if it’s Priestman, someone already on the staff such as interim head coach Andy Spence, or an external name, whoever is in charge going forward will want to already start planning for 2027.
To do that, they’ll want to be calling in more youngsters to help push those veterans, helping ensure that the race for spots in 2027 will be as competitive as possible.
2027 planning put on hold ahead of big developments:
While many potential youngsters missed out on this camp, however, one can figure it’s only a matter of time before a wave of players get a look at the senior level.
#CanWNT roster of 21 players. Curious as to why 23 were not selected. So many younger talents that could have been brought in for the experience. https://t.co/tQ8gELJMt0
— Andre Schaffner 🍁 (@A_Schaffner89) October 16, 2024
Especially after the U20 World Cup, where several young Canadians impressed as Canada reached the Round of 16 and fell to Spain, it feels like a couple of those players could earn a look, such as Annabelle Chukwu, Jeneva Hernandez-Gray, Zoe Markseni and more, joining Smith.
For what it’s worth, it was tough for a good chunk of those players to get looked at in this camp, too - many of them are entering the crunch period of an already busy NCAA schedule. Perhaps had that not been an implication, one can only wonder if a few of them might’ve been included in this roster.
Then, of course, it’s also important to remember that Canada will get a great opportunity to see more of these youngsters next year, as a big milestone will occur, that being the launch of the Northern Super League.
With Canada finally about to get a professional league, which will offer a long-awaited pathway for players to play professionally without leaving home, that’ll be huge for the next generation of young players.
One can only wonder if that paves the way for some of those college players to come home, and it’ll certainly be an enticing option for youngsters yet to break into the professional game.
That’s going to be key, as this Canadian team will be able to closely follow the development of some of their next top young professionals within Canadian borders, which will aid them massively long-term as they look to push them to the next level and integrate them into the National Team.
Because of that, it makes it easier to stomach a lack of youngsters in the immediate future as it feels the launch of the NSL will help fill the massive gap that currently exists between youngsters playing at the amateur level and playing professionally, which often requires players to toil away in the NCAA or to make a big leap to go and play in Europe.
Now, the NSL will offer a launching pad for players, and it’ll only be natural for the National Team to benefit from that, long-term which could have an impact as soon as next year, with the goal then being to help grow the player pool for 2027 and beyond. 
In-form players still offer plenty of intrigue:
Even though it feels like it’s been a quiet period for a lot of Canadian players, however, in large part due to a later starting European season, some Canadians enter this camp in strong form, both in the NWSL and across Europe.
Closer to home, Cloé Lacasse is coming into this camp in great form, having recently scored a hat trick for the Utah Royals in a 3-0 win over the Seattle Reign. She may be 31, which will put her in a fight to make the 2027 squad, but if she keeps scoring goals it’ll be hard to keep her out, so look for her to earn some good minutes in this Spain match.
The first hat trick in @UtahRoyalsFC history! Take a bow Cloé Lacasse! pic.twitter.com/6Cvf0ttUUL
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 13, 2024
Otherwise, Gabrielle Carle has continued to play a key role for a strong Washington Spirit side since the Olympics and will look to build off a strong Olympic showing as she aims to earn a starting spot long-term.
Then, over in Europe, a few players have also been off to hot starts. Olivia Smith leads the way in that regard - she’s scored two goals already for Liverpool, and has been excellent playing in a free role in their attack. After missing out on the Olympic squad, it feels like that won’t be happening again anytime soon, with a regular starting role expected to follow starting this camp.
Wow, Olivia Smith continues to impress in her debut Liverpool season, and she’s now scoring GOLAZOs at Anfield
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) October 13, 2024
What a HIT from distance for her 2nd goal with the club in a 2-1 loss to Man City
Can’t wait to see this with the #CanWNT/#CanXNT soon
pic.twitter.com/ZqZ232pwaj
Meanwhile, Evelyne Viens has continued to pour in the goals for Roma, having already scored five goals and added three assists, so look for her to lead the line - perhaps joined by Lacasse and Smith in a front three.
Elsewhere, Kadeisha Buchanan has shone to start the year with Chelsea, doing well to adapt to new manager Sonia Bompastor, while Vanessa Gilles has picked up where she left off with Lyon - scoring goals and helping shut things down at the back - that pair will remain crucial to this Canadian team for years to come alongside Jade Rose. Along with the continued progress of Simi Awujo in her first season with Manchester United, one can imagine they all get good looks in this Spain game.
And that’s good to see. As Canada starts to build towards 2027, they’ll want to see their key players, older and younger, continuing to produce at the club level, helping create more competition for spots with Canada, especially as the pool deepens.
Because of that, don’t be surprised to see some of these names play from the start against Spain, helping Canada kick off their journey toward 2027 on a high note with a strong performance.
