Canada’s women over 50 secured a bronze medal at the World Nations Cup of walking soccer by defeating Australia in a penalty shootout in Torrevieja, Spain. The match ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time, with Canada’s Pauline Fisher scoring first in the opening half and Australia equalizing with six minutes left in the second half.
The game remained tied after three rounds of penalties until goalkeeper Fatima Harris successfully converted her penalty kick, leading Canada to a 2-1 victory in the shootout. Defender Negar Farjadnia described the team’s unity during the decisive moment as they celebrated with Harris.
Harris, who had three clean sheets earlier in the tournament, is now in contention for the Golden Glove award after making crucial saves during the shootout. Canada concluded the group stage with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses.
In the semifinals, Canada suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to eventual champions France. Despite a close attempt to equalize in stoppage time with a free kick, Canada fell short. This marked Canada’s inaugural participation in the women’s category of the World Nations Cup.
Farjadnia expressed the significance of representing Canada and its values on an international platform. The World Nations Cup, organized by the Federation of International Walking Football Associations, featured teams from 21 countries across various age groups.
England dominated the tournament by claiming five out of six titles, but the women’s over 50 final was won by France, showcasing the competitive nature of the division. Greg Mitchell, the coach of Team Canada, highlighted the global expansion of walking soccer, emphasizing the parity among teams challenging the traditionally strong English side.
