Canada’s U-17 soccer team made history by advancing to the knockout round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in nine appearances despite a 2-1 defeat to Chile. The match saw forward Van Parker miss a crucial penalty kick in stoppage time. In the same group, Uganda surprised France with a 1-0 victory, resulting in a four-way tie with all teams having 4 points each. Canada secured the second spot in the group, behind France, to secure a place in the Round of 32 of the tournament that now features 48 teams.
The Canadian team, which had never won a game in previous tournaments, showcased an impressive performance this year. They secured their spot in the next round with a dramatic 2-1 win over Uganda, followed by a goalless draw against France. Coach Mike Vitulano expressed pride in the team’s historic achievement and emphasized the lessons learned from their recent matches.
In the upcoming Round of 32, Canada will face Ireland, who topped their group. The tournament, set across eight pitches at the Aspire Zone complex, is scheduled to conclude on November 27 at Khalifa International Stadium. The game against Chile was filled with late drama, including a missed opportunity by Chile in stoppage time and a penalty awarded to Canada after a foul by Alonso Olguin. Despite the loss, Canada’s performance earned them a well-deserved spot in the next stage of the competition.