SYDNEY – All over South Korea Women’s World Cup In Tuesday’s opener against Colombia, the players stayed comfortably behind the goal. At the beginning of the 78th minute, a player broke away from the group. Casey Phair took the field at 16 years and 26 days, becoming the youngest player to do so at a World Cup – whether it be women’s or men’s.
“As things progressed, I was really, really nervous,” said Phair, who has an American father and South Korean mother and grew up in the United States. “It was a scary moment, but then as I kept walking and running around, I think it just leveled off.”
The previous record was held by the late Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days old when she played for Nigeria at the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
In the 17 minutes she spent on the field South Korea’s 2-0 defeatPhair was close to the ball at all times, vying for possession with Colombian players at every opportunity.
“She deserves the chance to play,” said South Korea head coach Collin Bell. “She trained really well, just like everyone else. I wanted to dress her to give her that experience.”
Phair’s next chance to play comes on Sunday when the Taegeuk Ladies take on Morocco in Adelaide, Australia.
Born on June 29, 2007 in South Korea, Phair is also the first multi-racial player, male or female, to play for a senior South Korea national team.
“I’m really proud and honored to be the first mixed player for the Korean FA,” said Phair. “I very much appreciate the opportunity that was presented to me today.”
Phair isn’t the only young star at this year’s Women’s World Cup. Two other 16-year-old players are in the tournament squad, although both were born in 2008. Giulia Dragoni started for Italy in the number 16 in Monday’s 1-0 win against Argentina and Sheika Scott came on as a substitute for Costa Rica in Friday’s 3-0 defeat by Spain.
Four other women’s World Cup players are 17 years old, while 39 of the 32 teams are teenagers.
One of them is 18-year-old Colombian Linda Caicedo, who scored her first World Cup goal in the 39th minute of her tournament debut on Tuesday to earn the Player of the Match award. She is the youngest goalscorer at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
The crowd was clearly pro-Colombian, which Phair had to contend with as she created her piece of history.
“I think the warm-up was very noisy,” Phair said. “I really enjoyed playing for the first time and I hope I will get used to it.”
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Abby Halpin is a graduate student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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