U.S.-born teenager Casey Phair has been chosen in South Korea’s 23-player squad for the Women’s World Cup.

The 16-year-old ahead has a Korean mom and an American father. She is the primary participant of combined heritage to signify South Korea within the prime ladies’s or males’s nationwide soccer groups, and she or he’s additionally the youngest.

“I know as the first mixed race player for Korea, men and women, it’s a highlight, it’s something new,” head coach Colin Bell informed a information convention Wednesday on the National Football Center in Paju.

“But as far as I’m concerned she’s still a kid and it’s my duty to protect her so she can blossom and really fulfill her potential.”

Bell, who's English, insisted that Phair was going to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as a full member of the squad and never merely a growth undertaking.

“We’re taking care of her, she’s taken very well to the team. She’s selected because I think she can help the team now, like every other player,” Bell stated. “She is going not as a passenger but as a valuable member of the squad.”

PHOTOS: South Korea consists of American-born teenager Casey Phair in Women's World Cup squad

Phair, who scored 5 targets in two video games for South Korea’s Under-17 group in Asian Cup qualifying earlier than being drafted into the senior squad’s coaching camp final month, had beforehand been coaching in New Jersey with the Players Development Academy.

“I feel really proud and honored to be given this opportunity,” she informed reporters. “And I’m ready and willing to do whatever it takes to help the country.”

There are extra skilled gamers out there to Bell, with goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi at 38. The group might be led by England-based stars Ji So-yun of Chelsea and Tottenham’s Cho So-hyun, who each have made 144 worldwide appearances.

South Korea has by no means made it previous the second spherical in three earlier Women’s World Cup appearances and can full preparations with a warm-up in opposition to Haiti in Seoul on Saturday.

The South Koreans open their World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Colombia on July 25 in Sydney and also will face Germany and Morocco in Group H.

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South Korea squad:

Goalkeepers: Ryu Ji-soo, Kim Jung-mi, Yoon Young-guel

Defenders: Shim Seo-yeon, Lee Young-ju, Lim Seon-joo, Kim Hye-ri, Jang Sel-ji, Choo Hyo-joo, Hong Hye-ji

Midfielders: Kim Yun-ji, Jeon Eun-ha, Bae Ye-bin, Cho So-hyun, Lee Geum-min, Ji So-yun, Chun Ga-ram

Forwards: Kang Chae-rim, Son Hwa-yeon, Moon Mi-ra, Park Eun-sun, Choe Yu-ri, Casey Phair

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