Canada Soccer have announced their Men’s U-17 squad for the upcoming two-match friendly series with the South American champions Brazil. As part of preparations for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023, Canada will face Brazil on Friday 29 September and Sunday 1 October in São Paulo.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy products Jeevan Badwal, Liam MacKenzie, and Kyler Vojvodic have been called up for the camp.
“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 Andrew Olivieri, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Youth Excel Director. “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 biennial FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 through the Concacaf Under-17 Championship in February at Guatemala. This will be the first FIFA U-17 World Cup since before the global pandemic when Canada and Brazil faced each other in the group phase on the opening day in Gama at Brazil 2019. The hosts Brazil won the tournament three weeks later at the same stadium.
“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.
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 SQUAD
1- GK- Nathaniel Abraham | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
2- FB- Theo Rigopoulos | CAN / Toronto FC II
3- FB- Gaël de Montigny | CAN / Académie CF Montréal
4- M- Alessandro Biello | CAN / Académie CF Montréal
5- CB- Chimere Omeze | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
6- CB- Lazar Stefanovic | CAN / Toronto FC II
7- M- Taryck Tahid | CAN / Vancouver FC
8- M- Jeevan Badwal | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
9- F- Antoni Klukowski | POL / Pogoń Szczecin II
10- M- Philip Igbinobaro | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
11- F- Kevaughn Tavernier | CAN / Forge FC Hamilton
12- FB- Allen Saye Blegay | CAN / Simcoe Rovers FC
13- CB- Richard Chukwu | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
14- M- Tyler Londono | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
15- CB- Victor Fung | CAN / Inter Miami CF Academy
16- CB- Étienne Godin | CAN / Académie CF Montréal
17- M- Liam MacKenzie | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
18- GK- Alexander O’Brien | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
19- F- Kyler Vojvodic | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
20- F- Lino Aklil | FRA / HSC Montpellier U-19
21- F- Lucas Ozimec | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
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.
