Veterans Christine Sinclair, Amy Walsh and Kara Lang headline the Canadian team that will compete at next month's FIFA Women's World Cup in China.

Canadian head coach Even Pellerud announced his 21-player roster Tuesday at Hugo Ray Park in Vancouver, with Sinclair, Welsh and Lang the top names included on the squad list.

Christine Sinclair, right, will lead Canada into battle at next month's FIFA Women's World Cup in China.Christine Sinclair, right, will lead Canada into battle at next month's FIFA Women's World Cup in China.
(Ahn Young-Joon/Associated Press)

"The selected team is more experienced at an international level than the previous World Cup team," Pellerud said. "We have a good balance of experience and youth."

The fifth edition of FIFA's Women's World Cup takes place in China from Sept. 10-30. The 16-team field is divided into four groups:

  • Group A: Germany, Japan, England and Argentina.
  • Group B: United States, North Korea, Sweden and Nigeria.
  • Group C: Norway, Canada, Australia and Ghana.
  • Group D: China, Brazil, Denmark and New Zealand.

The top two teams in each group advance to the second round.

Canada, who defeated Mexico to win a bronze medal at last month's Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, plays its first World Cup game on Sept. 12 against Norway in Hangzhou. Canada then meets Ghana on Sept. 15 and Australia on Sept. 19 in Chengdu.

"We are playing against really strong opponents and World Cup competitions are all about momentum so we need to start out strong against Norway," Pellerud said. "Our goal for the World Cup is a podium finish."

Canada will be looking to better its remarkable fourth-place finish at the 2003 World Cup.

Defending champion Germany, the top-ranked team in the world, two-time champion United States, 1995 winner Norway and perennial contenders China are dubbed as the teams to beat at the event.

CBC Sports is carrying all of Canada's first-round matches, as well as all tournament playoff games, live on TV and online at CBCSports.ca.

Canada plays Japan in an exhibition game on Aug. 30 in Tokyo in preparation for the Women's World Cup.

Canada is currently ranked ninth in the world by FIFA, soccer's governing body.

CANADA'S WORLD CUP ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Erin McLeod, Karina Leblanc, Taryn Swiatek.

Defenders: Melanie Booth, Candace Chapman, Melissa Tancredi, Randee Hermus, Robyn Gayle, Tanya Dennis.

Midfielders: Amy Walsh, Andrea Neil, Diana Matheson, Kara Lang, Kristina Kiss, Martina Franko, Rhian Wilkinson, Sophie Schmidt.

Forwards: Brittany Timko, Christine Sinclair, Jodi-Ann Robinson, Katie Thorlakson.