FIFA: South Korean Casey Phair makes history as the youngest player ever

South Korea made football history on Tuesday because Casey Phair, a South Korean-born association football player who lives in the United States, became the youngest player ever to feature at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Casey Phair is the first multiracial footballer to be named to South Korea women’s national football team. She is just 16 years old.

At 16 years and 26 days, she debuted in the second half of the Group H match in Sydney, capital of New South Wales, Australia. 

During a match between South Korea and Colombia on Tuesday, Casey Phair had to wait until the 78th minute to come out on the pitch at Sydney Football Stadium, Australia. 

Earlier, Casey Phair played for the South Korea under-17 team. She helped the team to qualify for the 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup. The talented teenage footballer scored two goals against Tajikistan and three goals against Hong Kong. Due to her talent, she was called to participate at the women’s team for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

South Korea’s English coach Colin Bell lauded the talent of Casey Phair. He further said that he wanted to protect the teenager. He also said, “She has got that self-belief, one of the aspects I’ve always admired from the US girls.”

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However, South Korea suffered a 2-0 loss to Colombia on Tuesday. South Korea is set to play against Morocco in Adelaide, a city in Australia, on Sunday. 

During the match on Tuesday, Catalina Usme, a Colombian footballer who plays as a forward for América de Cali and the Colombia women’s national team, put her team ahead from the penalty spot. Later on, Linda Caicedo, a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Primera División club Real Madrid and the Colombia women’s national team, doubled the lead.