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This Friday the 2023 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup kicks off in Indonesia with four teams from CONCACAF, United States, Mexico, Panama and Canada, all hoping to lift the trophy.
2023 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 champions Mexico will begin their campaign in Group F on Sunday, November 12, against familiar foe Germany.
Mexico, who are the only CONCACAF team to have lifted the FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy, doing so in 2005 and 2011, famously defeated Germany 3-2 on home soil in the 2011 semifinals.
El Tricolor will then continue their 15th U17 World Cup appearance with matches against Venezuela on November 15 and New Zealand on November 18.
2023 CMU17 Top Scorer Stephano Carrillo (8 goals) and Best Player Award winner Gael Alvarez headline the Mexico roster.
2023 CMU17 runners-up United States will target a top finish in Group E where they will take on Burkina Faso, South Korea and 2001 U17 World Cup champions France.
It is the 18th U17 World Cup appearance for the U.S., with their best finish coming in 1999 when they finished fourth. Keyrol Figueroa, who led the U.S. in scoring with seven goals at the 2023 CMU17, will spearhead the U.S. attack in Indonesia.
The U.S. open with South Korea on Sunday, November 12, followed by Burkina Faso on November 15 before closing with France on November 18.
Group B will feature Canada, who finished as semifinalists at the 2023 CMU17. Center back and 2023 CMU17 Best XI inclusion Lazar Stefanovic anchors the Canadian team.
Canada open the tournament on Friday against four-time U17 World Cup runners-up Spain, before facing Uzbekistan on November 13 and then Mali on November 16.
Canada are making their eighth appearance in a FIFA U17 World Cup and will attempt to advance from the group stage for the first time.
Panama’s third participation in a U17 World Cup will begin in Group A where they will take on Morocco this Friday, followed by host nation Indonesia on November 13 and Ecuador on November 16.
The Canaleros’ best finish at a U17 World Cup came in 2011 when they reached the Round of 16 in their debut. Panama qualified for the 2023 U17 World Cup as a semifinalist in the 2023 CMU17.
Kevin Walder, who led the team in scoring in the CMU17 with four goals, will lead the Panama attack in Indonesia.
