Canada’s women’s soccer team will kick off their CONCACAF W Cup campaign against El Salvador, who secured their spot in the tournament by defeating Guatemala 3-1 in a qualifying match. The victory, fueled by Brenda Ceren’s hat-trick, placed El Salvador in Group C alongside Canada, Costa Rica, and Paraguay.

Canada’s opening match against El Salvador is scheduled for Thursday, followed by clashes with Paraguay on Feb. 25 and Costa Rica on Feb. 28, all to be held at Houston’s Shell Energy Stadium. Earlier qualifiers saw Puerto Rico beat Haiti 1-0, while the Dominican Republic secured a 1-0 victory against Guyana.

The tournament, running until March 10, will feature group stage matches in Carson and San Diego. The knockout phase will commence with quarterfinals in Los Angeles, followed by semifinals and the final in San Diego.

Canada’s qualification came after defeating Jamaica in the Olympic qualifying playoff, while the top teams from the 2022 Women’s Copa America and regional qualifiers earned their spots. The men’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, held since 1991, will also be part of the event.