Canada announced its roster for the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Thursday, with Vancouver Whitecaps Residency goalkeeper Marco Carducci highlighting the 21-player roster.
Carducci, the team’s captain, was one of several players to have represented Canada at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship earlier this year.
A native of Calgary, Carducci is key member of the Canadian side because he "performs consistently at a high level," according to coach Sean Fleming.
"He’s a tremendous person. He has great maturity. He’s a leader by example. … His attitude on the training pitch is fantastic. He has the immediate respect of all of his teammates, and they really look up to him," Fleming told reporters during a conference call.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup runs from Oct. 17 to Nov. 8 in the United Arab Emirates. Canada will play its first group stage match against Austria on Oct. 19, before facing Iran (Oct. 22) and Argentina (Oct. 25). Canada’s three group matches are all in Dubai.
The young Canadian side was one of four teams from CONCACAF to qualify for the World Cup, clinching a berth with a 4-2 win over Jamaica in the quarter-finals of CONCACAF U-17 Championships staged in Panama in April. The Canadians went on to lose to Panama in the semifinals before beating Honduras in the third-place match.
This will be Canada’s second straight U-17 World Cup appearance following on the 2011 competition in Mexico, and its sixth overall dating back to 1987 when it hosted the tournament.
While the Reds have high hopes for the World Cup, simply getting there is a greater achievement that most realize. Unlike at the senior level where Mexico and the United States dominate, CONCACAF is more competitive at the under-17 level, with far more teams in the mix.
Fleming believes playing at the World Cup is integral to the continued development of this group of young players as they work their way through the national team program up to senior team level. His players will get at least three international games under their belts (more if they make it to the knockout round) and learn to deal with the pressure of a big event.
Midfielders Samuel Piette and Keven Aleman competed at the 2011 World Cup and have since graduated to the Canadian senior team. This tournament offers the current U-17 team members to follow in their footsteps.
"That’s the big message for these boys, that this is a part of their journey. It’s super to be part of this (World Cup), but hopefully they’re thinking more long-term and that they want to be on our senior men’s team. That’s the most important thing," Fleming said.
Kianz Gonzales-Froese, a midfielder with the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency program, was recently cleared by FIFA to play for Canada. He previously represented Cuba at U-17 level.
Canada will carry three alternate players on the roster in case of injuries. Fleming did not reveal which three players listed were alternates. The Canadian team will train in UAE from Oct. 5-14 ahead of the World Cup.
Obviously, Fleming wants to see his team do well and hopes Canada can earn its first U-17 World Cup win. But he’s more interested in the developmental benefits of this competition, rather than results.
"I have to check myself at times and (remind myself) that this is a developmental program," Fleming said. "It’s a great event but we have really to focus on the little things… and the biggest thing (for the players) is to focus on our performance."
CANADA’s roster
GK- Marco Carducci | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
GK- Christian Kaiswatum | CAN / Edmonton FC Academy
GK- Daniel Milton | ENG / Blackpool FC
CB- Alex Comsia | FRA / Stade Lavallois Mayenne FC
CB- Mathieu Laurent | CAN / Mississauga
CB- Elias Roubos | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
FB- Kevon Black | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
FB- Eric Davies | USA / FC Dallas Academy
FB- Aron Mkungilwa | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Hanson Boakai | CAN / FC Edmonton
M- Adam Bouchard | URU / Defensor Sporting Club
M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Mikaël Cantave | FRA / Union Sportive de la Jeanne d’Arc
M- Matthew Chow | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Marco-Leonel Dominguez | CAN / Braves d’Ahuntsic U-16
M- Kianz Gonzales-Froese | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Jordan Haynes | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Jose Lopez | CAN / FC Edmonton Reserves
M- Ali Musse | CAN / WSA North Stars
M- Derick Sequeira | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Nevello Yoseke | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
F- Andrew Gordon | CAN / Woodbridge Strikers
F- Jordan Hamilton | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- El Mehdi Ibn Brahim | CAN / Braves d’Ahuntsic