Casey Phair is a 16-year-old soccer star who made her debut appearance for the South Korean national team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Thanks to her talent and potential, the Angel City soccer team has signed Phair as their youngest-ever signing.
Phair is a budding soccer talent to look out for in the near future. Likewise, she has a world record in the kitty of the youngest player in the men’s and women’s category to participate in a soccer World Cup.
As of the day of her debut national appearance for South Korea, Phair was 16 years and 26 days old. This made her beat the record of the former youngest player in the World Cup record, the late Ifeanyi Chiejine. The former record holder was 16 years and 34 days old during her debut appearance for Nigeria at the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
Phair is also the first mixed-race soccer player ever to represent South Korea on an international stage. She was born to an American father and a South Korean mother on June 29, 2007.
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Phair was raised in the US and has lived most of her life there. So, after her debut match against Columbia at last year’s World Cup, she told reporters, “I’m really proud and really honored to be the first mixed player for the Korean Federation. I really appreciate the opportunity I was given today.”
However, she admitted to feeling quite nervous when she came on in the 73rd minute of the South Korea-Columbia match. It was the first time she would play with, on and against, a senior team; there were much older women on the two teams.
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Also, many Columbian soccer fans were chanting loudly during the match. It took Phair a few minutes before adapting. South Korea eventually lost the game 0-2 to Columbia. However, it was a different shade of win for Phair.
During a recent interview, Phair explained that she could integrate with the South Korean women’s team because her mother taught her the Korean language while growing up.
Phair’s mother bought her writing workbooks for learning the language even before enrolling her in Kindergarten. She even helped Phair appreciate Korean delicacies by preparing some indigenous dishes for the young girl.
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Despite being a young teenager, Angel City in Los Angeles decided to give her a shot because of her maturity and international exposure. Phair’s contract with Angel City will run from 2024 through 2026. The National Women’s Soccer League team unveiled their latest signing on Thursday.
Despite signing Phair through the under-18 entry route, Angel City’s management hopes to help her transition rapidly to the professional leagues. According to a statement by Angel City’s Angela Hucles Mangano, “We’re excited to add depth to our front line and allow Casey an opportunity to grow and develop at Angel City.”
Before eventually signing for Angel City, Phair ran trials with the Kansas City Current and Gotham FC. She did this to weigh her professional odds right after the 2023 World Cup.
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