Canada Soccer – Canada drawn into Group F at the Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship
19 February 2019

Canada Soccer’s young players will have an opportunity to test themselves against the best in the region this May when they compete in the 2019 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship. It’s an important competition which will also provides the Men’s EXCEL Program with the chance to lay the foundation for Canada’s cultural and tactical identity on the pathway to the Men’s National Team.

Canada will face USA, Guatemala and Barbados in the Group Stage of the 2019 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship from 2-6 May at the IMG Academy Center in Bradenton, FL, USA. The Group Stage in May features the 16 top-ranked nations drawn into four groups, with Canada drawn into Group F. Canada’s three match dates are 2 May against USA, 4 May against Guatemala, and 6 May against Barbados.

“We are at the beginning of introducing a new philosophy, system and approach for these young Men’s EXCEL players, but I am sure the will enjoy and grow from the experiences we have lined up,” said Andrew Olivieri, Canada Soccer’s Men’s EXCEL U-14 to U-17 Program Director. “Through our Men’s EXCEL programming and the upcoming Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship, our U-17 age group will experience a program that is fully aligned to the Men’s National Team tactical and cultural frameworks which is an important step for our future.”

Beyond the Group Stage, the Round of 16 will feature 12 nations from the four groups played in May (top three nations from Groups E-H) along with the four nations that won their respective Qualifying Stage groups from 16-25 March (Groups A & C) and 1-9 April (Groups B & D). The Round of 16 features eight knock-out matches played across two days: 8 May (1st in Group E v 1st in Group D; 2E v 3G; 1G v 1B; 2G v 3E) and 9 May (1F v 1C; 2F v 3H; 1H v 1A; 2H v 3F).

The Quarter-finals are scheduled for 12 May followed by the Semi-finals on 14 May and the Championship Final on 16 May. The four nations that win their Quarter-final matches on 12 May will also qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2019.

Ahead of the Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship, Canada have been diligent in synergizing its Men’s EXCEL Program with the professional clubs in Canada, formalising the monitoring and tracking systems, periodising competition programs, and aligning calendars ahead of the international competition in May. Canada Soccer have worked hand-in-hand with the clubs in their own environments, evaluating a wider base of players while working together with the clubs to develop players both on and off the field on the pathway to the Men’s National Team.

UNITED COLLABORATION WITH MEXICO
Next up in March, Canada Soccer will bring together an elite group of players for an 11-day Men’s EXCEL camp in Mexico from 4-14 March at the Mexican Football Federation training centre. The March camp has been organised through a collaborative effort with Canada Soccer’s United 2026 partner Mexico.

“The Canada Soccer youth camp in Mexico is the result of our ongoing partnership with the Mexican Football Federation in the runway to co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and USA,” said Peter Montopoli, Canada Soccer General Secretary. “The camp in Mexico provides our young players with an excellent opportunity to develop while supporting the National Player Pathway alignment for National Team success.”

Canada Soccer’s Men’s EXCEL Program channels our nation’s exceptional players into the best soccer environments. The Canada Soccer Pathway works in collaboration with our provincial and territory partners as well as the professional clubs and academies. For Canada’s elite players, the program emphasizes player development on the pathway to representing Canada’s Men’s National Team in international soccer.

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Youth Teams have won two CONCACAF titles: both the 1986 and 1996 CONCACAF Men’s Youth Championships. Canada have qualified for eight editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and six editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

 

Corporate Communications | Gestionnaire, Communications corporatives
bfougere@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.299.1587

Richard Scott
Men’s National Teams Program | Programme de l’équipe nationale masculine
rscott@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.818.0305

Carrie Croft
Women’s National Teams Program | Programme de l’équipe nationale féminine
ccroft@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.406.4986