In a momentous event for Women’s World Cup, Casey Phair created history by becoming the youngest player to participate in the tournament. Her debut for South Korea against Colombia on Tuesday, at the age of 16 years and 26 days, surpassed the previous record set by Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Chiejine in 1999.
Introduced as a late substitute, Phair’s milestone moment occurred during a match that ended in a 2-0 loss for South Korea. Despite the setback, her achievement adds a new chapter to the tournament’s legacy.
Born to a Korean mother and an American father in South Korea, Phair’s family moved to the United States when she was very young. While she had the opportunity to represent the United States after training with the Players Development Academy in New Jersey and attending a U.S. camp, she ultimately chose to play for her country of birth, making her the first player of mixed heritage to do so.
As the tournament progresses, South Korea will aim to recover from the loss to Colombia and focus on their upcoming match against Morocco, who faced a heavy defeat in their World Cup debut against Germany. The path ahead presents a chance for South Korea to demonstrate their resilience and determination in the Women’s World Cup.