Canada win Group C at the Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship

Canada won Group C at the 2023 Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship with three wins in three days at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Canada won 4:1 over hosts Dominican Republic on Sunday, 2:0 over Guatemala on Monday, and 1:0 over Panama on Tuesday. Canada will next face either USA or Haiti in the Concacaf Quarterfinals on Thursday 10 August at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez.

“There’s so much for which to proud,” said Mike Vitulano, Canada Soccer’s Boys’ U-15 Coach. “The boys are growing daily as they continue to learn our tactical identity and cultural framework. Our staff have done a tremendous job giving this talented group a foundation in our Men’s National Team Program for the years ahead.”

This marks the first time in three attempts that Canada have won all three of their group matches at the Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship, albeit also the third time in a row that they have advanced to the knockout phase. Canada now hold an all-time record of eight wins and just four losses in 12 matches at the Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship with 27 goals scored and just 11 goals conceded.

Ahead of the 2023 Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship, the Canada squad trained just three days together in the Dominican Republic before their opening match against the Dominican Republic. While only 18 players are featured on the official squad for Concacaf matches, Canada have 21 players training as a team for the duration of the competition (down from 22 players after an injury). Only players born 2008 or later were eligible for selection.

Through the group phase, all 18 squad players have accumulated international minutes across the three 70-minute matches. Seventeen of those 18 players have made their international debuts at this competition, with only Richard Chukwu a previous youth international at the U-17 level.

“We’re in a good place after a week, the players feel good and they know what is coming up after a day of rest,” said Vitulano. “It’s been three tough match days in a row, but they have responded to each challenge with lots of maturity.”

In the opening match, Grady McDonnell scored goals with both feet while André Ali-Gayapersad and Kevin Khan also hit the back of the net. McDonnell scored the 1-0 opener down the left side after a pass from William Daniels, Ali-Gayapersad made it 2-0 from outside the penalty area after a pass from Chukwu, McDonnell made it 3-1 from the penalty spot, and Khan scored the last goal from the right side after a cross from Tim Fortier. McDonnell earned Player of the Match honours.

In the second match, Daniels scored the match winner after he intercepted a goalkeeper clearance in the first half. Player of the Match Kemari Record-Wright had delivered the cross from the right side. Record-Wright then made it 2-0 in the second half after a through ball from Chukwu. Goalkeeper Dominic Kantorowicz posted the clean sheet with the help of his backline, but also made a tremendous save late in added time on a free kick attempt from Marvin Avila.

In the third match, Daniels scored the lone goal in the second half on a cross from Khan. This time, it was goalkeeper Jean-Christophe Belzile that posted the clean sheet with the help of the backline, but like Kantorowicz, Belzile had to be good to make a diving save on a free kick attempt. Ali-Gayapersad earned Player of the Match honours.

In two previous competitions, Canada went straight to the Semifinals in 2017 where they were eliminated by Mexico. Canada then beat Mexico in the 2019 Quarterfinals before they were eliminated by guest side Slovenia in the 2019 Semifinals. There was no tournament in 2021 because of the global pandemic.

CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM
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. Across Brazil 2019 and Peru 2023, Canada have qualified for back-to-back FIFA U-17 World Cups.
 
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.