Jen Herst named as Canada Women's U-17 head coach ahead of World Cup in Morocco

Canada Soccer announced on Wednesday that Jen Herst has been named the Head Coach of the Canadian women's U-17 national team, and Women's Youth Excel Program Lead. 

Herst will lead Canada into the 2025 FIFA U-17 women's World Cup later this month in Morocco. Canada have been drawn in the tournament's Group D, where they kick off the competition on October 19 against Nigeria, before taking on Samoa on October 22 and France on October 25. 

“I’m incredibly excited for the future of women’s soccer in Canada," said Herst. "There is exceptional talent across the country, and I’m committed to helping nurture and elevate that potential. This is a pivotal stage in our development pathway, and I look forward to shaping a system that reflects the diversity, ambition, and excellence of our nation.”

She recently led the U-17 head coach at the Four Nations Tournament in Mexico this past summer, where Canada drew against the United States 1-1 (losing on penalties), 0-0 with Mexico (winning on penalties) and then defeating Costa Rica 2-0. 

After failing to qualify for the 2024 edition of the tournament in the Dominican Republic, the Canadian women's U-17 side look to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since Uruguay 2018. The finished fourth at that year's tournament, coached by Canadian national team legend Rhian Wilkinson. 

Herst was also the senior national team's goalkeeping and set-piece coach at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. She has also worked with the English and Welsh FA internationally, as well as Liverpool, Manchester City and Everton at the club level.