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Canada back Common Goal ahead of World Cup

The Canadian women's national team have got behind Common Goal ahead of the World Cup.

Fifteen players and one staff member have pledged one percent of their salaries to the charity initiative, spearheaded by Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, which has already raised $1.3 million.

The group, which includes 35-year-old captain Christine Sinclair and 18-year-old Jordyn Huitema, follow goalkeeper Erin McLeod who signed up in February.

"When I heard about Common Football I just thought 'Of course. Why wouldn't I want to be a part of this?'" McLeod said.

"Now I am extremely proud that 15 of the girls on the team have signed up and at the World Cup this summer, Canada will have the first Common Goal XI.

"I won't be there because I'm injured -- it crushes my heart -- but I'm so proud of the players who will be there. This is what our Canadian legacy is all about.

"Some weeks ago we reached an agreement with the Canadian Soccer Association, giving us the best contracts we've ever had.

"One of the first things these Canadian players do is commit a percentage of their salaries to Common Goal.

"This is the character of the Canadian National Team -- they are role models in every sense of the word."

Canada, ranked fifth in the world, kick off their World Cup campaign against Cameroon in Montpellier on June 10 before finishing Group E with games against New Zealand and Netherlands.

Megan Rapinoe, one of the first women to join Common Goal in 2017 and a World Cup winner with the USA, said: "Hearing the news about the first Common Goal international XI is so inspiring.

"The fact that this is a team of women is a really powerful statement about the role women are playing in Common Goal, and in the development of the global football industry generally.

"Congratulations to this amazing group of Canadians and welcome to the Common Goal team."