Sports Anchor Carlota Vizmanos introduces the three promising international soccer players you should be paying attention to in the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
Casey Phair, welcome to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Phair substituted into South Korea's Group H opener against Colombia on Monday and became the youngest ever player to feature in the prestigious tournament.
Born to a South Korean mother and American father, Phair set the record at 16 years, 26 days old. She was born in South Korea but moved to the United States when she was just one month old.
Her family resides in New Jersey, but her appearance in the World Cup means she is cap-tied to South Korea and can no longer switch national teams.
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The 2023 World Cup will showcase additional younger talent across the 32-team field, with teenagers hoping to see the pitch at impressively young ages. However, none will be younger than Phair.
Here are other young players you should look out for as the competition continues in New Zealand and Australia:
Who is the youngest player at the 2023 Women's World Cup?
The youngest player at the 2023 Women's World Cup reigns from South Korea: Casey Phair. Born on June 29, 2007, Phair, an American-born South Korean, is the only player born in 2007 currently going to the World Cup. Phair will hope to earn her first cap this summer.
Three other players in the tournament are also 16, but were born in 2006. The Philippines have Isabella Pasion on its preliminary roster. Pasion is 16 years old and was born on Nov. 28, 2006. She has five caps with the senior national team.
Giulia Dragoni, a midfielder for Italy, was born on Nov. 7, 2006. Dragoni made the final 23-player squad chosen by manager Milena Bertolini.
Then there is Sheika Scott, a midfielder for Costa Rica, who was born on Oct. 22, 2006. Scott was also only named to a 30-player preliminary squad.
Who is the youngest USWNT player at the 2023 Women's World Cup?
The youngest U.S. women's national team player at the 2023 World Cup is Alyssa Thompson. The 18-year-old forward was born on Nov. 7, 2004 and has three caps with the senior team. She currently plays for the NWSL's Angel City FC at the club level.
Who are the youngest players at the 2023 Women's World Cup?
Along with Pasion, Dragoni and Scott, there are other young athletes hoping to break out in Oceania. Here is a list of every player aged 18 or younger named to a squad in the 2023 World Cup:
Aged 16:
- MID Isabella Pasion, Phillippines
- MID Casey Phair, South Korea
- MID Sheika Scott, Costa Rica
- MID Giulia Dragoni, Italy
Aged 17:
- MID Wieke Kaptein, Netherlands
- GK Kaiya Jota, Philippines
- FW Milly Klegg, New Zealand
Aged 18:
- FW Isabella Flanigan, Phillippines
- FW Chiara Beccari, Italy
- MID Solai Washington, Jamaica
- GK Liya Brooks, Jamaica
- FW Alyssa Thompson, USA
- MID Comfort Selemani, Zambia
- DEF Esther Banda, Zambia
- DEF Pauline Zulu, Zambia
- GK Letisha Lungu, Zambia
- GK Genesis Perez, Costa Rica
- FW Abbie Larkin, Ireland
