Veteran midfielder Diana Matheson looks to help lead Canadian women to World Cup
It’s been more than 15 years since a teenage Diana Matheson made her senior debut for Canada, sent on in the 78th minute by then-coach Even Pellerud in a 1-0 loss to Norway at the 2003 Algarve Cup.
“I think Even was yelling instructions at me as I ran on the field. But I was too excited and did not hear a word,” she recalled. “And then we lost the game so everyone was pretty subdued on the bus after. I can remember bring pretty happy and trying to keep that very contained as everyone else was pretty disappointed with the performance.”
Now 34, the Utah Royals midfielder is four caps away from 200. Depending on squad rotation, she could reach the milestone at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, which serves as a World Cup qualifier for North and Central America and the Caribbean.
The tournament opens Thursday in Cary, N.C., where Trinidad & Tobago faces Panama and the top-ranked U.S. meets Mexico. Fifth-ranked Canada opens Friday against No. 64 Jamaica in Edinburg, Texas.