Four Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy players have been named to Canada's U-17 men's squad for the upcoming Copa México de Naciones Sub-17, Canada Soccer announced on Friday. Their 11-day camp is scheduled from December 10 to 20. The three-nation competition will help prepare the nations for the upcoming Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship and FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Canada squad, coached by Andrew Olivieri, will feature players born 2006 or later.
Included on the roster are defender Aidan Fong, midfielders Jeevan Badwal and Liam Mackenzie, and striker Kyler Vojvodic.
Canada will face Costa Rica on Thursday, December 15 and then face hosts Mexico on Monday, December 19. Both matches will be played at the Mexican Football Federation’s training centre, the Centro de Alto Rendimiento de la Federación Mexicana de Fútbol. These will be Canada’s first two international tests for this age group ahead of the biennial Concacaf competition in February.
Â
The 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship runs February 11 to 26 in Guatemala. Canada have been drawn into Group F alongside Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and USA. The top-three nations from the group advance to the Round of 16. From the knockout phase, the top-four nations will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Word Cup Peru 2023.
Â
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.
Â
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 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, 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 15 FIFA men’s youth tournaments: eight editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and seven editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Canada most recently qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019, which was the last FIFA men’s youth competition before the global pandemic.
CANADA
1- GK- Nathaniel Abraham | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
2- FB- Aidan Fong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
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 Academy
7- F- Matteo Landicho-Correia | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
8- M- Jeevan Badwal | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
9- F- Lucas Ozimec | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
10- M- Antoine N’Diaye | CAN / Académie CF Montréal
11- F- Erik Pop | CAN / Prostars FC
12- FB- Theo Rigopoulos | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
13- M- Braden Stevanovic | CAN / Tecumseh SC
14- M- Ruben de Sá | POR / Vitória SC Juvenis
15- CB- Victor Fung | CAN / Inter Miami FC Academy
16- CB- Simon Guardiero | CAN / Sigma FC
17- F- Antoni Klukowski | POL / Legia Warszawa
18- GK- Alexander O’Brien | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
19- F- Kyler Vojvodic | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
20- M- Andrei Dumitru | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
22- M- Liam MacKenzie | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
23- M- Richard Chukwu | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
24- CB- Étienne Godin | CAN / Académie CF Montréal
25- F- Ibrahim Higazy | ESP / Rayo Vallecano
