After securing a U-17 World Cup berth with a wild 5-3 win against host Guatemala in the Concacaf U-17 Championship quarterfinals, the U.S. U-17 men’s youth national team is USA will face Canada in the semifinals on Friday at 8 p.m. ET (FS2, VIX+).

It will be the nations’ second clash at the competition after the U.S. topped the Reds, 1-0, in its group stage finale.

With its record 18th U-17 World Cup qualification in hand, the U.S. is aiming for its first Concacaf U-17 Championship since 2011. Canada has clinched back-to-back World Cup berths for the first time since 2011-13 and is looking to reach the championship match for the first time since 2011.

All tournament matches are being broadcast in English on Fox Sports platforms and on the Fox Sports app with corresponding authentication.

 

The USA is 10-1-0 vs. Canada all-time at the Concacaf U-17 Championship and has won 10 straight since dropping the first meeting in 1988.

The nations clashed in their group stage finale, a 1-0 victory for the USA. David Vazquez teed up Keyrol Figueroa for the game’s lone goal in the 65th minute.

The teams faced off twice in the 2019 tournament, also in the group stage and the semifinals. In the group stage opener, the U.S. roared back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 as current USMNT players Gianluca Busio and Gio Reyna scored.

In the semis, a strong second half boosted the USA to a dominant 4-0 win. Reyna scored again, while current USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi bagged a brace.

USMNT midfielder Sebastian Lleget scored against Canada in 2009, while forward Eddie Johnson netted two in 2001.
Appearing in their 18th Concacaf U-17 Championship, Canada has now qualified to eight FIFA U-17 World Cups after topping Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals. The Reds have qualified to back-to-back World Cups for the first time since 2011-2013.

Canada finished runner-up to the United States in the 2011 tournament, its best finish.

Canada defender Victor Fung plays alongside U.S. defender Tyler Hall at Inter Miami CF.

Sixteen of Canada’s 20 players are based at the country’s three MLS clubs: eight at Toronto FC plus four each at CF Montreal and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Three Canadian players are based overseas in Germany, Portugal and Spain.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.