The Women’s World Cup 2023 kicks off later this month, and South Korea’s national team is the latest side set to include a 16-year-old who will also make history as their first mixed-race player.
Due to the unusual circumstances that were the COVID-19 pandemic, we will actually be getting back-to-back years of the World Cup. The women’s edition of the global event kicks off on July 20, and while it may not be the global Super Bowl of soccer that the legendary men’s tournament is, it is still arguably the biggest event in female athletics.
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The United States national team will once again be favorites as they look to defend their title from 2019. The various sides from around the world will be doing all they can to try and compete with the always-tough American team, and in the case of the South Korean Women’s World Cup 2023 team, that will include adding one of the nation’s best under-21 players to their roster.
Women’s World Cup 2023 start date: July 20
On Wednesday morning it was reported that 16-year-old American Casey Phair has been added to the South Korean Women’s World Cup 2023 roster. Not only will she be breaking the usual trends by playing for the team at such a young age, but if she does get on the field during the tournament, she will make history as the first mixed-race player of any gender to play for Korea.
Phair has dual citizenship after being born to an American father and a mother that is a native of South Korea. She has ties to the South Korean national team after the forward previously represented the nation at the youth level. She has been developing her skills while playing for the Players Development Academy in the US.
“I know as the first mixed-race player for Korea, men, and women, it’s a highlight, it’s something new,” South Korea head coach Colin Bell told media on Wednesday. “But as far as I’m concerned she’s still a kid and it’s my duty to protect her so she can blossom and really fulfill her potential. We’re taking care of her, she’s taken very well to the team. She’s in the squad on merit. She deserves, on her performance, to be selected.”
Phair is actually the fourth 16-year-old to be officially announced for one of the rosters in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Giulia Dragoni made her senior debut for Italy in a friendly against Morocco on Saturday. Sheika Scott will be playing for Costa Rica, and Isabella Pasion is a member of the Philippines world cup squad.