Canada’s women’s national team will kickoff their World Cup year with a pair of friendlies against Switzerland and Norway in January.

Canada Soccer announced Wednesday their top women’s side will play two exhibitions in Spain this month: a training match with Switzerland on Jan. 17 and a friendly against Norway on Jan. 22 in La Manga.

“This year is all about preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, so we are eager to get together in Europe and continue the momentum we built throughout 2018,” head coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller said in a release. “Switzerland and Norway are both difficult sides, so these two matches will serve as an excellent opportunity to test ourselves against strong European opponents.”

While Switzerland missed out on qualifying for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, they did manage to make the Round of 16 in 2015. Norway, meanwhile, has qualified for France 2019 and will play in Group A alongside the hosts, Korea and Nigeria.

Along with preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer in France, Heiner-Møller and co. will also be looking towards next month’s Algarve Cup. Canada has been drawn in a group with Iceland and Scotland. Canada won the Algarve Cup in 2016 and placed second in 2017.

“We are certainly not starting from scratch, this team has been developed over time, but work remains to ensure that when we take the pitch in June, Canada will be at their very best, putting on a genuine FIFA World Cup performance,” Kenneth Heiner-Møller said.

Canada Soccer also unveiled the squad for the two friendlies Wednesday: 22-year-old Vanessa Gilles, of Ottawa Ont., received her first call-up, with the centre-back signing a contract with Girondins de Bordeaux in July after wrapping up her collegiate career with the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Canada begins FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ campaign with two matches in Europe followed by the Algarve Cup https://t.co/jrO8mLlZMq#CANWNT pic.twitter.com/pYLPZoYqFW

— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) January 9, 2019