Priestman has 'full support' of Canada Soccer despite early Women's World Cup exit

Jason deVos says disappointment is an understatement when it comes to Olympic champion Canada's early exit at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Canada Soccer's interim general secretary says there will be a full review of both the tournament and the women's program.

"What I can say is that [coach] Bev [Priestman] has my full support. She knows that," deVos told The Canadian Press.

The seventh-ranked Canadian women face Jamaica in an Olympic qualifying playoff Sept. 24 in Kingston, Jamaica, and Sept. 26 at Toronto's BMO Field. The 43rd-ranked Reggae Girlz went farther than Canada at the World Cup, finishing runner-up to France in Group F while relegating No. 8 Brazil to third place before falling 1-0 to No. 25 Colombia in the round of 16,

Canada failed to emerge from a tough Group B, tying No. 40 Nigeria 0-0, rallying to edge No. 22 Ireland and crashing 4-0 to No. 10 Australia in a do-or-die finale.

The Matildas and runner-up Nigeria both advanced to the knockout round. Third-place Canada returned home.

WATCH | Soccer North reacts to Canada's elimination:

Australia went on to blank No. 13 Denmark 2-0 in the round of 16 while Nigeria lost to No. 4 England in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw. The Matildas face fifth-ranked France in quarterfinal play Saturday.

DeVos, who was in Australia, said he did his best to support the Canadian campaign while keeping his distance from the team to let it go about its business.

"It was challenging," said deVos, a, a former Canada captain and member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame. "When you don't get the results that you hope to get, you want to get, it's frustrating. I can sense certainly the disappointment from the players, from the staff. And certainly my heart goes out to