Canada qualifies for 2019 Women's World Cup with rout of Panama
Canada booked a spot in the 2019 Women's World Cup in France thanks to a 7-0 victory over Panama in Sunday's CONCACAF Championship semifinal at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Canada captain Christine Sinclair scored her country's opening tally just before halftime, giving her 176 career international goals. Sinclair scored again four minutes after the restart, leaving her only eight back of American Abby Wambach's all-time record of 184.
All-time women's leading international scorers:
| Rank | Player | Int. Goals | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abby Wambach | 184 | U.S. |
| 2 | Christine Sinclair | 177 | Canada |
| 3 | Mia Hamm | 158 | U.S. |
| 4 | Kristine Lilly | 130 | U.S. |
| 5 | Birgit Prinz | 128 | Germany |
Sinclair's second-half replacement, Adriana Leon, recorded a brace of her own in the victory, while Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie, and Rebecca Quinn all chipped in with a goal apiece to cement a seventh consecutive World Cup appearance for Canada.
Officially qualified. 🍁
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) October 14, 2018
We are going to the @FIFAWWC France 2019! pic.twitter.com/AA41awzqhO
Jamaica will meet the United States, the reigning world champion, in Sunday's second semifinal match to determine which country will join Canada at next year's World Cup.