Canada qualifies for 2023 FIFA U-17 men’s World Cup after win over Puerto Rico

Following in the footsteps of the senior team, the Canadian U-17 men’s national team have qualified for back-to-back World Cups.

Canada defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 on Wednesday night in the Concacaf U-17 Championship quarterfinals, meaning they secured a spot in the tournament’s semifinals, and, more importantly, one of the region’s four spots at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.`

Kyler Vojvodic opened the scoring in the 8th minute with his third of the tournament on a header. Antoine N’Diaye doubled Canada’s lead emphatically from the penalty spot in the 36th minute, while central defender and captain Lazar Stefanovic added a third in the 55th minute from a brilliant freekick routine.

The Canadian U-17s have now qualified for back-to-back World Cups for the fourth time, last doing so in 2011 and 2013. Unlike the men’s World Cup, the U-17 World Cup is played every two years. While Canada has participated in seven U-17 World Cup tournaments, they have not yet won a match.

Canada opened the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship with a 3-2 victory over Trinidad & Tobago and beat Barbados 2-0 before rounding out the group stage with a 1-0 loss to the United States. They then defeated Haiti 3-0 in the round of 16 before Wednesday’s win over Puerto Rico.

Canada will now have a rematch with the United States in the tournament’s semi-finals. That match will take place on Friday, February 24 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Canada has only ever made one final at the Concacaf U-17 tournament, falling 3-0 in extra time to the United States in 2011.

The 2023 U-17 World Cup is set to kick off on November 10. The draw will be held in August of 2023 in Lima, Peru.