Canada in Group B at CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship
Canada Soccer – Canada have been drawn into Group B at the 2017 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship, with Costa Rica, Cuba, and Suriname the trio of Canadian opponents in the opening round of the competition. Canada will open against Costa Rica on 22 April in Panama.
“We had a good end to our 2016 year and we hope to continue that with our preparations in the new year,” said Paul Stalteri, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National U-17 Coach. “We now know who we are playing in April, so we can put our plans together as preparation will be key to ensure we peak at the right time.”
From 12 nations, only four will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup India 2017. In the opening CONCACAF round, the 12 nations are divided into three groups of four, with two nations from each group to advance to the Classification Phase.
Group A – Panama, Honduras, Curacao, Haiti
Group B – Costa Rica, Canada, Cuba, Suriname
Group C – Mexico, El Salvador, Jamaica, USA
22 April – Cuba v Suriname; Costa Rica v Canada
25 April – Canada v Cuba; Costa Rica v Suriname
28 April – Canada v Suriname; Costa Rica v Cuba
Following the opening round (21-29 April), the six nations will be divided into two groups, as determined by the draw and the corresponding placements in the opening round.
Group D – Group B 2nd Place; Group A 2nd Place; Group C 1st Place
Group E – Group B 1st Place; Group A 1st Place; Group C 2nd Place
1 May – Group B 2nd Place v Group A 2nd Place; Group B 1st Place v Group A 1st Place
3 May – Group A 2nd Place v Group C 1st Place; Group A 1st Place v Group C 2nd Place
5 May – Group B 2nd Place v Group C 1st Place; Group B 1st Place v Group C 2nd Place
In the Classification Phase, the top two teams in each group will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017. The two group winners will also play in the Championship match on Sunday 7 May.
All matches will be played in Ciudad Panama, Panama, at either Estadio Maracana or Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
“Any team will be difficult at this stage, so we have the same objective to get into the final round and go from there,” said Stalteri.
The 2017 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship runs 21 April to 7 May in Panama. From 12 CONCACAF nations, the top four will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 from 6-28 October.
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.
About Canada Soccer
Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at canadasoccer.com.
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