Casey Phair Is the Youngest Person to Ever Play in the Women’s World Cup: 5 Things to Know

usmagazine.com:

The youngest player in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup was born in the United States, but she’s not playing with Megan Rapinoe and the rest of the USWNT — she’s playing for South Korea.Casey Phair, 16, became the youngest person ever to play in a Women’s World Cup when she subbed in during South Korea’s Tuesday, July 25, game against Colombia in the 78th minute.

At 16 years and 26 days old, Phair broke the record previously held by the late Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days when she played for Nigeria in 1999.When South Korea announced its roster earlier this month, coach Colin Bell said he was not “experimenting” by selecting Phair for the team. “Casey is going not as a passenger but as a valuable member of the squad and has every chance of getting into the team,” Bell, 61, told Reuters ahead of the tournament. “I also want to have that competition.”South Korea ultimately lost their opener, but Phair wasn’t discouraged. “Although today we didn’t get the result we hoped for, we will work hard to bounce back next game,” she wrote via Instagram after the match. “I am honored to make both my senior team and World Cup debut, and wanted to thank everyone that has supported me to this point — this is just the beginning.”Keep scrolling for five things to know about Phair: Phair was born in South Korea to an American father and a South Korean mother.

Her family moved to the United States when she was still an infant. They now live in Warren Township, New Jersey.Phair is a striker for the South Korea national women’s team.

In addition to being the youngest person ever to play in a Women’s World Cup, she is also the first multiracial player named to the South Korea women’s team.Phair started playing soccer in