Although at first glance, Canada and Japan might not be that iconic of a rivalry in women’s soccer compared to Canada vs. USA or Canada against England, there have been a number of memorable battles between the two nations over the years.
Canadian coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller recently said the upcoming friendly versus the Japanese would be against “very, very good opposition” and one that fits Canada’s needs because Japan is a “young, interesting team.”
With Japan set to welcome the world at next summer’s Olympics, we could have another memorable game on our hands when the two sides meet on Oct. 6 in Shizuoka.
Let’s take a closer look at the Canada versus Japan rivalry by the numbers:
4 — Jordyn Huitema is one of four players on the Canadian roster playing professionally in France. She’s leaving a mark early in her rookie season with Paris Saint-Germain, scoring once in league play and finding the back of the net twice in UEFA Women’s Champions League action. Elsewhere, Kadeisha Buchanan and Japan’s Saki Kumagai are teammates at Olympique Lyonnais.
5 — Canada’s biggest victory over Japan came at the 2000 Pacific Cup, a 5-1 win that saw four different Canadians find the scoresheet, including a then 17-year-old Christine Sinclair. In eight matches versus Japan, Sinclair has tallied five goals, including a hat trick at the 2008 Cyprus Cup.
13 — Dating back to 1995, Canada and Japan have met on 13 occasions, with the Canadians winning four matches, and earning three draws. Their last meeting was at the 2018 Algarve Cup in Portugal. Canada won 2-0 via Janine Beckie and Ashley Lawrence goals, while Stephanie Labbe earned a clean sheet.
24 — Heiner-Møller’s current 24-player roster includes five players in their 30s and five teenagers. The oldest player on the team is Sinclair at 36, while the youngest is 16-year-old Jade Rose. She’s represented Canada at youth levels, but she has not made her senior debut. Two others could also earn their first caps: Vanessa Gilles and Jessica De Filippo.
182 — The Abby watch continues. Captain Sinclair currently sits with 182 career goals, three shy of surpassing the all-time international record of 184 set by retired American star Abby Wambach.
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1995 — Canada and Japan faced one another for the first time on May 5, 1995. The friendly, played at Tokyo’s Nishigaoka Stadium, saw the home team earn a 1-0 victory thanks to an injury-time winner from Nami Otake. The striker had a short but prolific career with her national team, scoring 29 goals in 46 appearances.
2012 — Who can forget Canada’s incredible run at the 2012 London Olympics? Although Canada lost 2-1 to Japan in group stage action, it’s a match that proved to be a real litmus test. The Canadian squad found another gear and eventually returned home with a historic bronze medal.
2020 — If Canada qualifies for next year’s Olympics, Heiner-Møller believes this Japan match works in his side’s favour because “getting that familiarization with culture, food, transportation, logistics” is what he calls “invaluable when going to pinnacle events.” This is Canada’s first trip to Japan since 2007. The only current members on that team are Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt.
9,654 — Nearly 10,000 people were on hand at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium for the bitterly cold opener of a two-game friendly set between Canada and Japan in October 2014. The visitors took the match 3-0, but the result was a bit of an afterthought because that game marked the senior debut of defender Allysha Chapman. Her return to the program after a five-year absence has brought Canada strength and durability on the back line. Post-match, then coach John Herdman named Chapman his player of the game.