Rick Rycroft/AP
South Korea’s KC Fire controls the ball during the Women’s World Cup Group H soccer match between Colombia and South Korea at the Sydney Football Stadium on Tuesday.
CNN
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South Korean striker Casey Fayer became the youngest player to appear at the World Cup on Tuesday – 26 days after her 16th birthday.
The American-born teenager came on as a 78th-minute substitute in South Korea’s 2-0 loss to Colombia in Sydney, beating the 1999 Women’s World Cup record held by Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Chijinye, who was 16 years and 34 days old.
Another record was broken in Group H’s clash on Tuesday – the 22 years and 256 days between the Fire and South Korea goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi is the biggest age gap between teammates in Women’s World Cup history. According to FIFA.
Fire is the first player of mixed heritage to be selected for Korea’s World Cup squad. According to Reuters. After announcing her selection, South Korea’s coach Colin Bell said they had a responsibility to protect the teenager from publicity.
South Korea next face Morocco in Adelaide on Sunday.
Norman Whiteside represented Northern Ireland in 1982 at 17 and 41 days and is the youngest player to appear in the Men’s World Cup.