Canada’s U17 women’s soccer squad to meet Brazil in World Cup quarterfinal

Canada scored three goals in each half en route to a comfortable 6-0 win over Zambia in Round of 16 play Wednesday, setting up a quarterfinal date with Brazil at the FIFA Women's U17 World Cup in Sale, Morocco.

The Canada-Brazil winner will face either defending champion North Korea or 2014 winner Japan in the semifinal. Brazil blanked China 3-0 in its Round of 16 game.

Daniela Feria-Estrada scored twice, and Melisa Kekic, Mya Angus, Chloe Taylor and Amy Medley added singles for Canada at the Football Academy Mohammed VI. Several of the goals were of highlight-reel quality, although Kekic missed a second-half penalty.

Canada has outscored its opposition 18-2 in winning four straight at the 24-team tournament.

Canada's best showing at the U-17 championship was fourth in 2018 when it was beaten by Mexico in the semifinals. It also made the quarterfinals in 2008, 2012 and 2014.

Canada advanced to the knockout round here by topping Group D with wins over Nigeria (4-1), Samoa (6-0) and France (2-1). Zambia moved on as one of the four best third-place finishers, behind Japan and Paraguay in Group F.

In other Round of 16 action Wednesday, France upset Spain, runner-up in 2024 and champion in 2018 and '22, in a penalty shootout, Mexico edged Paraguay 1-0 and Japan blanked Colombia 4-0.

Zambia, whose entire team is based domestically, bounced back from losses to Paraguay (2-1) and Japan (1-0) with a decisive 4-0 victory over New Zealand.

Zambia was full of willing runners but lacked a cutting edge against Canada.

It was a stop-and-start first half due to numerous injury delays with Zambia's Nana Malanda having to come off in the 34th minute.

The Canadians went ahead in the 13th minute on the counterattack when Olivia Chisholm's