MANILA — Canada exited the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup on a losing note Friday, outclassed in a 7-0 defeat by European champion Spain.
Antia Perez, Dany Domingos, Laura Cordoba, Ale de Paz, Cecilia Zarzuela, Marta Lopez-Pardo and Noelia Montoro scored for unbeaten Spain, which boasts one of the top futsal leagues in the world. The Canadians, meanwhile, were restricted to short camps in August and October advance of the tournament.
Spain dominated play, outshooting Canada 55-14 (20-6 in shots on target) and had 11 corners to Canada’s four.
Canada lost 2-0 to Colombia and 6-3 to Thailand in its opening Group B games. Spain had downed Colombia 5-1 and Thailand 5-2.
The two earlier losses, coupled with other results, had eliminated Canada from moving on while Spain was assured of topping the group barring a lopsided loss Friday.
Colombia defeated Thailand 4-1 earlier Friday to finish second in the group and move on to the knockout round. In quarterfinal play Monday, Spain faces Group A runner-up Morocco, whose players watched the Canada game from the stands at the PhilSports Arena, while Colombia takes on Group A winner Argentina.
Futsal is a five-a-side indoor game played in two 20-minute halves.
Spain is ranked second in the FIFA women’s futsal rankings while Thailand is No. 4 and Colombia No. 8. Canada, largely due to its lack of international matches, is currently No. 74.
“It was a tough game, for sure,” said Canada coach Alexandre Da Rocha. “We were playing a tough team, probably one of the favourites to win the tournament.”
“I’m proud of the group … Spain was just a better team,” he added.
Spain has won all three editions of the UEFA Women’s Futsal Championship while Thailand was runner-up at the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup in May. Colombia finished third at the 2025 Copa América de Futsal Femenina in March, securing the third and last South American berth at the World Cup.
The Spanish women continue to win despite the injury absence of captain Peque, named futsal’s Best Women’s Player in 2022, and Mayte Mateo. The injury prompted Peque to retire on the eve of the tournament.
Canada trailed 5-0 at the break, outshot 32-6 (11-3 in shots on target).
Spain controlled play, patiently eluding the Canadian press and moving the ball around while trying to pull Canada out of shape.
Canada ‘keeper Léa Palacio-Tellier made several early saves to keep Spain off the scoreboard. But Spain pulled ahead in the fifth minute via a screen shot from Perez and Domingos made it 2-0 in the 10th with a simple tap-in after the Canadian defence was carved open with a perfect pass.
At 41, Domingos is the second-oldest player at the 16-team tournament runs through Dec. 7.
Cordoba made it 3-0 with another tap-in from in front of goal in the 14th minute. Spain did it again one minute later, this time with de Paz scoring from in front.
Zarzuela upped the lead to 5-0 with a powerful shot from distance on the eve of halftime.
Lopez-Pardo capped off a pretty passing play five minutes into the second half. Jadyn Steinhauer took over in the Canadian goal but was beaten by Montoro in the 29th minute on a slick rapid-fire attack.
Steinhauer made several acrobatic saves after coming on.
Despite its rankings and lack of playing time together, the Canadian women qualified in style in May by defeating Mexico in a penalty shootout in the semifinal of the CONCACAF W Futsal Championship in Guatemala. The Canadians then downed Panama 8-2 in the final.
Da Rocha brought 12 of his players from the CONCACAF championship to the World Cup. Keera Melenhorst, who plays for Linkoping FC in Sweden, and Sadie Sider, who plays for the University of South Florida, were unable to come due to club and school commitments.
Their spots were taken by defender Katerine Delev and forward Magali Gagné.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2025.
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