Imagine playing on the biggest stage in women's soccer at the young age of 16. That's exactly what Casey Phair was able to do in becoming the youngest player to appear in a World Cup game.
The Warren, New Jersey native entered the game as a substitute for South Korea on Monday night. A rising sophomore at The Pingry School is 16 years and 26 days. The previous record was held by Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Chiejine, who was 16 years and 34 days old when she took the field during the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
Phair is eligible to play for South Korea because her mother, Hye Young, was born there. Phair trains with Central Jersey club, Players Development Academy (PDA). PDA is a big name in the soccer world, having also been where fellow New Jersey stars like Casey Murphy and Tobin Heath trained. Her current PDA team is coached by Mike O’Neill, the longtime head coach at nearby Rutgers University.
Phair had shined during her time at a camp for the South Korean National Team and earned an invitation to the team's World Cup camp before being named to the 23-player roster. She is the first mixed-heritage player to be called up to a South Korean World Cup team.
South Korea lost to Colombia by a score of 2-0 on Monday.
As a freshman at Pingry, Phair scored 25 goals in 15 games.
New Jersey Cheering on Casey Phair
In addition to cheering on Team USA, folks here in Jersey have eyes on another young local star in Casey Phair.
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