Canada: Jack Wilshere, a former Arsenal midfielder, has announced his retirement from professional footballOn Friday, Canada qualified for the 2023 World Cup by defeating a tenacious Panama side 1-0 at the CONCACAF W Championship.

Following Costa Rica's 4-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago earlier in the day, a win over Panama would ensure Canadian women's qualification with one group game remaining at the eight-team tournament.

The results on Friday ensure Olympic champion Canada (2-0-0) a top-two finish in Pool B and a spot in the semifinals, ensuring a trip to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. No. 37 Costa Rica (2-0-0) qualified from Canada's group as well.

Canada dominated play, while Panama attempted to frustrate by relying on fouls to break up the action, frequently delaying the ensuing free kicks by refusing to retreat from the ball.

The Panama trainers got a workout, trundling onto the field several times. Julia Grosso, who opened her senior scoring account with two goals off the bench in Tuesday's 6-0 win over No. 76 Trinidad and Tobago, provided the breakthrough in the 64th minute.

A Panama defender attempted to clear a Jessie Fleming cross, but the ball was intercepted by Grosso. The 21-year-old Juventus midfielder deftly shifted the ball to elude a defender before poking home. The Canadians play Costa Rica on Monday to determine who will finish first in Pool B. That most likely means avoiding the top-ranked United States in the semifinals.

The CONCACAF tournament serves as a qualifier for both the World Cup in 2023 and the Olympics in 2024. Only the CONCACAF champion is guaranteed an Olympic berth as well as a ticket to the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup in 2024.

In their two previous meetings, the Canadian women have never lost to Panama, outscoring the 57th-ranked team 13-0.

Sinclair scored twice in Canada's 7-0 win over Panama at the CONCACAF Women's Championship in October 2018, earning Canada a spot in the 2019 World Cup in France.