A goal from Joelle Gosselin on 64 minutes sends Canada to the top of Pool B with Ireland needing today's opponents to defeat Mexico in their encounter on Tuesday again in Fu Jen. 2015's fourth placed finishers are now qualified for the Quarter Finals.
Ireland started very brightly with UCD's Jetta Berrill finding plenty of success down the right hand side. One of her crosses was half cleared to Clare Kinsella who let fly from 30 yards straight down the throat of Sarah Dilling, the Canadian keeper.
Canada had chances of their own with Marie Alidou Danjou finding some space in front of the Ireland defence to call Amanda Budden into action. There was a moment of panic when Gosselin challenged Budden for a ball which the Cork keeper couldn't collect and there were anxious moments as the ball bounced around before being finally cleared.
Berrill continued to be a threat for the Irish and another cross was half punched away by GK with the ball falling to Amber Barrett who couldn't control her effort.
Into the second half and Canada who were playing their first game, began to assert themselves and Budden was forced into a brilliant double save on the hour mark from Arielle Roy Petitclerc. A few moments later and the North American side took the lead when a loose back pass put Gosselin through and she made no mistake in finishing.
Ireland went in search of an equaliser with Bell emptying his bench to assist Barrett up top with Claire O'Riordan, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle and Rianna Jarrett all being sent on to try and bring the game back on to level terms but despite the firepower on the pitch, Ireland couldn't make the breakthrough and currently sit bottom of Pool B.
Ireland: Budden, Berrill, Walsh, Fox, Carroll, Mustaki, McNamara (Jarrett 79'), Frawley (O'Riordan 68'), McLaughlin (McCarthy 74'), Kinsella (Ryan-Doyle 86'), Barrett.
Subs Unused: Badana (GK), Nolan, Clancy, Byrne, Webb.
Canada: Dilling, J Labbe, Roy, Koehler, Alidou Danjou (Schellenberg 88'), Gosselin (E Labbe 80'), Roy Petitclerc, Lagarde (Brown 68'), Callender, Klasios (Liguori HT), Bordeleau.
Subs Unused: Vandal (GK), Da Costa, Dionne, Smith, Murchie.
Referee: M Ghorbani (Iran)