US-born South Korean, Phair, becomes youngest Women’s World Cup player

Casey Phair on Tuesday became the youngest player to feature at a Women’s World Cup after coming on as a substitute in South Korea’s 2-0 defeat to Colombia aged 16 years and 26 days.

The striker was born in the United States and was called up by the country at youth level, but has now made her debut for South Korea.

She came on in the 78th minute in Sydney, besting the previous record set by Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days when she played at the 1999 World Cup.

Phair, born to an American father and a Korean mother, is the first player of mixed descent to make the senior South Korean women’s football squad.