Canada’s Road to World Cup Success: The Pivotal Roles of Jessie Fleming and Ashley Lawrence
As Christine Sinclair nears the close of her legendary career at age 40, the Canadian women’s national soccer team prepares for a turning point. Fresh off the triumph at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics yet entering the Women’s World Cup as underdogs, Canada looks to its emerging leaders to inspire another run at glory. Chelsea teammates Jessie Fleming and Ashley Lawrence are now at the heart of this new era, each poised to guide Canada through one of its most critical transitional phases.
Jessie Fleming: The Engine of Canada’s Midfield
Jessie Fleming has built her reputation as a dynamic box-to-box midfielder, known for her relentless energy and stamina. Her background as a high-level cross country runner is evident in how she covers the pitch, combining endurance and high-intensity movement to influence both defensive and attacking sequences.
Fleming’s unique ability to time her runs into advanced areas has made her an ideal foil for Christine Sinclair throughout her national team career. Operating often as a second forward in defensive phases, she transitions smoothly into a late-arriving threat around the penalty area during attacks. This versatility allows Fleming to exploit spaces and disrupt opposition defenses, providing Canada with a consistent offensive outlet.
With Sinclair likely playing her last tournament, a key challenge for Fleming will be forging chemistry with new forward partners and adapting her movements to maintain Canada’s attacking threat. Her adaptability at Chelsea—alternating between central playmaker and box-to-box roles—mirrors her tactical flexibility for Canada. Fleming excels in utilizing half-spaces, supporting wingers with underlapping runs or creating overloads that pull opponents out of position.
Beyond her attacking contributions, Fleming’s technical ability allows her to advance the ball through dribbling at pace, breaking defensive lines with close control. Few midfielders can match her combination of speed, ball retention, and precision at high intensity.
Defensively, Fleming’s endurance makes her essential in Canada’s pressing schemes. Whether pushing high to win possession or tracking back to fill central gaps, her mobility aids in regaining control and disrupting opposition buildup. Quick to provide cover for teammates, she frequently supports full-backs in wide areas and is never afraid of a physical challenge.
Despite being only 25, Fleming is already a vice-captain for Canada and has accumulated over 115 caps. This World Cup represents a major stage for her to showcase her all-action style, leadership, and impact on both ends of the pitch.
Ashley Lawrence: Versatility and Defensive Stability
Ashley Lawrence debuted for the national team around the same time as Fleming and now enters her prime as a core leader for Canada. After a successful tenure with Paris Saint-Germain, her move to Chelsea promises new tactical challenges and opportunities to further diversify her role.
Lawrence’s true value stems from her remarkable versatility. While primarily deployed as a full-back for club and country, she is equally effective higher up the flank as a winger. Her pace, crossing ability, and attacking vision make her a constant threat on the overlap, while she can also deputize in central midfield thanks to her box-to-box qualities.
For Canada, Lawrence is the ultimate utility player—capable of filling any gap and providing high-level performances across multiple positions. During the 2022-23 season, she successfully completed over 70% of her actions, including an impressive 73% success rate in defensive duels. These numbers underscore her importance, particularly in high-pressure matches where tactical flexibility is critical.
Lawrence’s 1v1 defending is a cornerstone of Canada’s backline stability. Her speed and agile footwork allow her to recover position quickly and force attackers away from dangerous areas. Offensively, Lawrence is highly involved in progressing play, averaging nearly four successful dribbles per 90 minutes with a 62% completion rate. Her willingness to drive forward, deliver incisive crosses, and combine with attacking players causes constant headaches for opposing defenses.
Integrating Lawrence into both the defensive and attacking phases amplifies Canada’s tactical options. Her partnership with Fleming, formed at Chelsea and strengthened over years with the national team, will be central to orchestrating transitions, maintaining balance, and responding to the unique demands of tournament football.
The Path Forward for Canada
Canada faces a challenging path to replicate its Olympic success on the world stage, especially with the transition from Sinclair’s leadership to a new core of difference makers. However, the combination of Fleming’s relentless box-to-box influence and Lawrence’s tactical versatility puts Canada in a strong position to surprise and compete with the world’s best.
As the team steps onto the World Cup stage, all eyes will be on these two Chelsea standouts to drive Canada’s ambitions—setting the tempo in midfield, stabilizing the backline, and igniting creative attacks. If Fleming and Lawrence deliver on their potential, they could pave the way for a new golden chapter in Canadian women’s football.
