This holds significant importance as Phair becomes the first mixed-race player in South Korean soccer history to make the final roster for the Women’s World Cup.
On July 5, the Korea Football Association announced the 23-player roster for the tournament, which includes Phair’s name.
Phair, who was born to an American father working as an English teacher in Korea and a Korean mother, has been selected by head coach Colin Bell for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tournament will take place from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
“I believe my speed and physicality are my strengths. I think I can contribute to the team with my skills, especially in one-on-one attacking from the flanks,” said Phair to reporters at the Paju National Training Center (NFC) after the roster announcement. “I feel extremely proud and honored to be given this opportunity, and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to help the team.”
Born in 2007, Phair currently plays for PDA, a prestigious U.S. youth team, and is known for her aggressive breakthrough style, which gives her an advantage over other players of her age. According to the KFA, Phair holds dual citizenship and is also a promising player for the U.S., having been named to the U-15 national team’s training roster last year.
However, Phair is eligible to play for the South Korea national football team in the World Cup. As she has not yet played in an A-match (an international match between national teams) for any adult national team, she remains eligible under FIFA rules, as confirmed by the association. Phair has already been playing for South Korea’s age-group national teams since last year.
In April, she competed with the U-16 national team in the first round of qualifying for the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Women’s Asian Cup, scoring five goals in two matches.
Phair has also set a record as the youngest player to participate in a World Cup at the age of 16 years and 1 month. She broke a record set 20 years ago by Park Eun-sun (Seoul City Hall-16 years, 9 months).
Coach Bell, who selected Phair, said, “She possesses good physicality and finishing ability with both feet. She has been selected because I believe she can contribute to the team now, just like any other player. She is not going as a passenger but as a valuable member of the squad.”
BY SANGJIN KIM [support@koreadaily.com]
