Canada will play a couple of female football friendlies against Haiti in Winnipeg and Montreal in the May-June International Window of May-June de la FIFA.
The May 31 game at the Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg has been called a “special celebration match in honor of the extraordinary international race” of the veteran midfielder Desiree Scott, a native of Winnipegger who has announced his international retirement.
The Montreal game is scheduled for June 3 at Stade Saputo.
Scott, 37, who left retirement to play for Ottawa Rapid FC in the opening season of the Super League of the North, won 187 caps from 2010 to 2024 with 144 openings.
“Representing Canada has been one of the greatest achievements of my life,” Scott said in a Football Declaration in Canada. “It has been a team with which I have been so lucky to call the family and make history, and the trip has been no less than incredible. I have given everything to our country and I just want to say thanks. I am always grateful.”
Canada, seventh classified in the world, has won the three previous meetings with No. 53 Haiti.
Former Captain Christine Sinclair scored four times the last time they met, a 6-0 victory for Canada in an Olympic qualifier of January 2012 in Vancouver. Before that, Canada won 11-1 in October 2022 in Victoria, with four goals from Sinclair and three from Charmaine Hooper, and 2-0 in April 1991 in Puerto Príncipe.
A fierce defensive midfielder, Scott was known as “the destroyer” for his ability to break opposite attacks.
But he has only played for Canada twice, in friendlies against Mexico in Toronto and Montreal in June 2024, since November 2022. Knee surgery and other setbacks set her aside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf_pkn4zym0
He won 2021 Olympic Gold Medal
Scott, then with the current of Kansas City of the National Women’s Soccer League, announced last October that he would retire at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League season of 2024. But in January, he reversed that decision and signed with Ottawa, which starts his NSL calendar on Sunday against AFC Toronto.
Scott competed in three world glasses (Germany 2011, Canada 2015 and France 2019) and three Olympic Games, winning bronze medals in London in 2012 and River in 2016 and gold in Tokyo in 2021.
“Desiree has been a cornerstone of the women’s national team program, inspiring innumerable players with their hard work, spirit and commitment to the growth of the game,” said Canada coach Casey Stoney. “We are excited to carry out its legacy and honor it in Winnipeg and add two home games for fans this spring.”
Scott was 15 when he made his debut in the Canadian Youth Program in 2003 and 22 when he made his senior debut in February 2010 in a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in the Cyprus Cup.
Scott, who played five years at the University of Manitoba, where MVP was appointed from the team three times and the women’s athlete of Bison Sports of the year in 2009-10, was appointed for the Order of Manitoba in 2022 and included in the Hall of Fame of Western Canada in 2019.
“DESI has not only been a remarkable player but also a true ambassador of our sport and for our nation,” said Canada’s president Peter, Peter. “His passion, resistance and leadership have inspired so many in all of Canada, and leaves a lasting legacy.”
Winnipeg was last host to Canadian women in June 2017 when Canada defeated 3-1 in a game that saw Scott won his 125th cap.
Canadian women played for the last time in Montreal in June 2024, defeating Mexico 2-0 in Stade Saputo. The game marked Scott’s return of his knee injury.
Scott played club football for both FC Kansas City and the Kansas City current, also playing for Utah’s real ones in the NWSL, Notts County of England and the women of Vancouver Whitecaps.
