Canada Men’s U-17 Team Aims for FIFA World Cup Qualification
Canada Soccer announced the 21-player roster for the Men’s U-17 National Team participating in the 2026 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers. The team aims to build on recent successes, with Group G matches taking place in Costa Rica from February 2 to 11, 2026. Winning the group is essential for World Cup qualification.
Canada Soccer has confirmed the 21 players selected to represent the Canada Soccer Men’s U-17 National Team at the 2026 Concacaf U-17 Men’s Qualifiers, the gateway to a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year.
The qualifying tournament will send eight group winners to Qatar, where the expanded 48 team World Cup continues its new annual cycle. For Canada, the mission is clear. Win the group and extend a recent run of strong performances at this level.
A group built on standards and competition
Head coach Shane Lammie framed the challenge in direct terms, focusing on preparation and accountability rather than reputation.
This squad enters the qualifiers carrying momentum from the previous cycle, where Canada posted a perfect record and reached the knockout stage of the U-17 World Cup for the first time. The objective now is to translate that progress into another qualification, one match at a time.
Group G challenge in Costa Rica
Canada have been drawn into Group G alongside Aruba, Cayman Islands and Jamaica. All Group G matches will be hosted in Costa Rica from February 2 to February 11, 2026, with a single round format deciding qualification.
Canada’s schedule is set as follows:
- February 6 vs Cayman Islands
- February 8 vs Aruba
- February 11 vs Jamaica
Only the group winner advances, leaving little margin for error across the three fixtures.
Recent success sets the benchmark
In the 2025 cycle, Canada delivered a statement performance at the Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers, finishing 4 and 0 while outscoring opponents 26 to 2 and allowing no goals from open play. That run carried into the World Cup in Qatar, where Canada earned its first win at the tournament, secured a draw against France, and advanced from the group stage for the first time.
Those results have shaped expectations around this program. The standard has been raised, and this group is now tasked with meeting it again.
Canada Men’s U-17 roster for Concacaf qualifiers
Goalkeepers
Benjamin MacKinnon, Cavigal Nice
Gabriel Pandolfo, Académie de CF Montréal
Sam Rogers, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
Defenders
Quinton Belfon, Toronto FC Academy
Stefan Kapor, Toronto FC
Alain Louima, Escuela Futbol Huesca
Lohamba Okoko, DC United Academy
Edwin Omoregbe, Toronto FC Academy
Silas Schoppitsch, FK Austria Vienna
Ulrich Zamble, Académie de CF Montréal
Midfielders
Eloi Breton, Académie de CF Montréal
Raffi Budd, Cardiff City
Xavier Laroche, Levante UD
Vicente Lourenco, Casa Pia AC
Raphaël Pascal, Académie de CF Montréal
Connor Rickert, Marbella FC
Niko Wood, SC Heerenveen
Forwards
Tyler Brown, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
Liam Torres Cook, Castellón CD
Diago Delgado, Rio Ave FC
Van Parker, Real Salt Lake Academy
Alternates
Leon Arkhurst, Académie de CF Montréal
John Chukwu, Toronto FC Academy
Sasha Romanov, Toronto FC Academy
The road back to the World Cup
Canada has qualified for five of the last seven editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and this cycle represents another opportunity to reinforce the country’s growing presence at youth international level. With matches coming quickly and qualification on the line, Group G will test depth, discipline and mentality from the opening kickoff.
