So Canada’s set to compete at the FIFA U-17 World Cup and you don’t know the first thing about the tournament or why it’s so important.
Don’t worry. Sportsnet.ca has you covered with this handy FAQ:
WHEN IS IT?
The FIFA U-17 World Cup runs from Oct. 17 to Nov. 8 in the United Arab Emirates. Six cities will host games, with Abu Dhabi to stage one semifinal, the third-place match and the final.
HOW DOES THE TOURNAMENT WORK?
The 24-nation field is divided into groups of four. The top two teams in each round-robin group automatically advance to the round of 16. The top four third-place teams also advance. Beginning in the second round, the tournament adopts a straight knockout format.
WHO DOES CANADA PLAY?
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.
HOW DID CANADA QUALIFY?
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 the 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.
HAS CANADA PLAYED IN THIS BEFORE?
Yes, albeit with no success. 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. However, Canada has never won a single game at the tournament, losing 13 of 15 matches.
SO, CANADA’S DONE NOTHING OF NOTE?
Actually, Quillan Roberts netted the tying goal in a 2–2 draw against England at the last tournament to become the first (and still the only) goalkeeper to score a goal at a FIFA finals tournament. Don’t believe us? Watch this:
HAVE ANY MARQUEE PLAYERS EVER PLAYED IN THIS TOURNAMENT?
Plenty. This event, like the FIFA U-20 World Cup, is a launching pad for players to go on to greater things. The list of notable participants at past U-17 World Cups includes Luis Figo, Cesc Fabregas, Landon Donovan, Xavi, Ronaldinho, Alessandro Del Piero and Kanu.
WHY IS THIS TOURNAMENT IMPORTANT FOR CANADA?
Coach Sean Fleming believes the U-17 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.
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.”
WHO ARE SOME OTHER TEAMS AND PLAYERS TO WATCH?
Mexico is the defending champion, and will be looking to become only the second nation to repeat (after Brazil, 1997 and 1999).
Brazil and Nigeria have won the tournament a record three times each, while several nations with strong records at the senior level, such as Argentina and Uruguay, will be looking to win this competition for the first time.
Five countries will be making their tournament debut in the UAE: Iraq, Morocco, Slovakia, Sweden and Venezuela. Only the Soviet Union (1987) and Switzerland (2009) have won the tournament as debutants.
As far as players go, keep a close eye on Brazilian forwards Gabriel and Kenedy (two exciting prospects who have pro experience with Santos and Fluminense), as well as Italian captain Alberto Cerri, who made his debut for Serie A outfit Parma this past March as a 16-year-old.
WHO’S ON CANADA’S ROSTER?
Here’s the squad:
Goalkeepers: Marco Carducci (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency), Christian Kaiswatum (Edmonton FC Academy), Daniel Milton (Blackpool FC)
Defenders: Mathieu Laurent (Mississauga), Elias Roubos (Toronto FC Academy), Alex Comsia (unattached), Aron Mkungilwa (Académie Impact Montréal), Kevon Black (Toronto FC Academy), Eric Davies (FC Dallas Academy)
Midfielders: Nevello Yoseke (Académie Impact Montréal), Marco Bustos (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency), Jose Lopez (FC Edmonton Reserves), Jordan Haynes (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency), Matthew Chow (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency), Marco-Leonel Dominguez (Académie Impact Montréal), Mikaël Cantave (Union Sportive de la Jeanne d’Arc), Kianz Gonzales-Froese (Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency)
Forwards: Jordan Hamilton (Toronto FC Academy), Hanson Boakai (FC Edmonton), Andrew Gordon (Woodbridge Strikers), Ali Musse (WSA North Stars)