Canada to face Spain, Mali and Uzbekistan at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023

Canada will face Spain, Mali and Uzbekistan in Group B of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023. The four nations were drawn together for the 24-nation biennial competition that runs 10 November through 2 December.

“We’ve all been looking forward to this, but if I think of the players because it has to be really exciting for them to finally put a flag on the chest of that opponent they’ve been imagining across from them,” said Andrew Olivieri, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Youth Excel Director. “It has suddenly become very real and we can now focus on what’s ahead.”

Canada will face Spain on Friday 10 November, Uzbekistan on Monday 13 November and Mali on Thursday 16 November. From there, either two or three nations will advance to the Round of 16 depending on the results from the other groups.

“It’s been nearly seven months since we qualified and the players have been doing everything at their clubs to prepare for an opportunity to play in a FIFA U17 World Cup,” said Olivieri.

Ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Canada will face Brazil in a two-match series away in Brazil with matches to be played on 29 September and 1 October 2023.

“We have a two-match series against Brazil, and that’s the kind of test that can serve as a foundation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup,” said Olivieri. “It’s a big opportunity for our players to play Brazil in Brazil because they are the CONMEBOL champions as well as the defending FIFA U-17 World Cup champions.”

Canada qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 through the Concacaf Under-17 Championship in February at Guatemala. Canada qualified with a 3:0 win over Puerto Rico in the Quarterfinals.

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 TEAM PROGRAM
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are three-time Concacaf champions, previously winning the 1985 Concacaf Championship, 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup, and 2021-22 Concacaf Qualifiers. Canada most recently qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and have previously featured at the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games, the 1986 FIFA World Cup, and the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.

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 16 FIFA men’s youth tournaments: eight editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and eight editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Canada most recently qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 in February of this year.