Canada Soccer – Canada will open against the host nation Brazil at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019. Canada, Brazil, New Zealand and Angola make up Group A with the opening match on 26 October at the Bezerrão in Brasilia.
 
“It’s a special day and I think that what these young men have already accomplished in taking us to a FIFA U-17 World Cup will really start to sink in for them,” said Andrew Olivieri, Canada Soccer’s Men’s EXCEL U-14 to U-17 Program Director. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but to be in this position after our first cycle of NEX-PRO Integration strategies and Regional EXCEL visits is exciting for what the future holds for Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Program. It speaks volumes for what we can achieve as a country when we work so hard together.”
 
Canada will face Brazil on 26 October, Angola on 29 October and New Zealand on 1 November, with all three matches to be played at the Bezerrão in Brasilia. The Knockout Phase runs from 5 November through to the Final on 17 November.
 
Canada qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 after winning 4-3 on kicks from the penalty mark over Concacaf rivals Costa Rica on 12 May. After 120 minutes in the Florida heat with no winner from a 1:1 draw, Canada won their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in six years.
 
Gianfranco Facchineri scored the winning kick that sent Canada to Brazil. Goalkeeper Marc Kouadio stopped Jordy Hernandez’s opening kick and Jordy Evans struck the crossbar on Costa Rica’s fourth attempt. Kamron Habibullah, Matthew Catavolo and Julian Altobelli also scored for Canada from the penalty spot.
 
This marks the seventh time that Canada advances to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the biennial competition that was initially launched as the FIFA U-16 World Tournament in 1985. Canada were the second hosts of the competition in 1987.
 
“The Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship was an exciting next step to the NEX-PRO integration strategies that we launched with our MLS academies, but it also represented the type of pinnacle event where success in meaningful matches will put us among Concacaf’s top nations,” said Olivieri. “The big objective was to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and we have done which will now allow us to accelerate the development for the players in this age group.”
 
CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S EXCEL PROGRAM
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.
 
MEN’S EXCEL PROGRAM U-14 to U-23 : https://www.canadasoccer.com/men-s-u-14-to-u-17-p144317
 
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 now qualified for 15 FIFA men’s youth tournaments: eight editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and seven editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

 

Corporate Communications | Communications corporatives
bfougere@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.299.158
 

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