Defender Sydney Collins makes a comeback from injury, joined by goalkeeper Emily Burns, midfielder Florianne Jourde, and forward Kaylee Hunter earning their first senior call-ups for Canada’s upcoming matches in the FIFA October international window. Coach Casey Stoney has unveiled a 24-player squad set to take on Switzerland, ranked 24th, on Friday at the Swissporarena in Lucerne, followed by a clash against the 11th-ranked Netherlands on October 28 at Goffertstadion in Nijmegen.
Collins, who last played for Canada in December 2023 against Australia, has faced injury setbacks lately. She suffered a fractured ankle in February 2024 during Canada’s camp ahead of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. Although she returned in time for the 2024 Olympics, she had to withdraw from the squad after breaking her left leg before the tournament. Collins was traded to Bay FC in August by North Carolina for $60,000 US in 2025 intraleague transfer funds and has been a regular starter at centre back.
Florianne Jourde, who led Canada in the 2024 FFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, is among the three new additions to the senior team. Emily Burns, who plays for FC Nantes in France, has earned accolades in the French league and has previously featured for Dijon, Saint-Etienne, and Calgary’s Foothills FC. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Jourde moved to Paris Saint-Germain in July after playing college soccer at USC and representing AS Laval.
Seventeen-year-old Kaylee Hunter, hailing from Calgary, has been in superb form for AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League, boasting 14 goals and three assists this season. The young forward, who made her international debut at 15, has been a standout at the youth level.
Notably, star forward Olivia Smith, who recently made a record-breaking transfer from Liverpool to Arsenal, returns after missing the previous international window due to injury. However, several key players like Lysianne Proulx, Kadeisha Buchanan, Vanessa Gilles, and Simi Awujo are unavailable due to injuries. Additionally, Kayla Briggs and Annabelle Chukwu are not in the selection pool due to mutual agreements with their colleges.
The Canadian squad, with an average age of 25.2, displays a mix of experience and youth, with Adriana Leon, at 33, being the oldest member and Kaylee Hunter, at 17, the youngest.
Canada holds a positive record against Switzerland and the Netherlands, having remained unbeaten in their previous encounters with Switzerland and losing just once in 14 games against the Netherlands. Their upcoming matches against these opponents will be crucial as they aim to bounce back from a recent defeat to the United States. Coach Stoney emphasized the need to reset and improve following the defeat, acknowledging the challenges faced in the previous match.
Overall, Canada under Stoney’s guidance has shown promise, with a record of 6-2-1, as they look ahead to their upcoming fixtures with determination and optimism.
