Canada Soccer - Canada falls to hosts Brazil in FIFA U-17 World Cup opener
26 October 2019

CANADA 1:4 BRAZIL 15' BRA - João Peglow 45' BRA - Own goal / But contre son propre camp 46' BRA - João Peglow 56' BRA - Gabriel Veron 86' CAN - Jacen Russell-Rowe

Canada scored late, but ultimately lost 4:1 to the hosts and two-time champions Brazil at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Goalkeeper Marc Kouadio was a standout while Jacen Russell-Rowe scored the lone Canada goal on a right-footed shot in the 86th minute.
 
Canada will next face Angola on Tuesday 29 October again at the Bezerrão in Gama, Brasilia. In Canada, fans can watch the match live via TSN and RDS at 16.00 ET / 13.00 PT (17.00 local). The group phase then wraps up with a Friday 1 November match against New Zealand, also at the Bezerrão. Extended match day coverage will be featured across Canada Soccer’s digital channels including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to follow Canada Soccer’s Men’s U-17 National Team every step of the way by using their social media handle, #canm17.
 
“It was a fantastic opportunity to play in the opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019,” said Andrew Olivieri, Canada Soccer’s Men’s EXCEL U-14 to U-17 Program Director. “We couldn’t ask to play a better team. Brazil is a great soccer nation and they showed it today. We grew throughout the match and we will be better because of it when we face Angola and New Zealand throughout the group phase.”

MATCH CENTRE, QUOTES & PHOTOS http://canadasoccer.com/?t=match&gid=1549
 
Brazil opened the scoring in the 15th minute on a goal by forward Peglow. They then doubled their score late in the first half after a cross was deflected by a Canadian defender into his own net. Brazil’s third goal was scored early in the second half after a missed clearance by Canada from inside the box. The ball fell straight into the pathway of the no.10 Peglow who fired it past the goalkeeper. They added their fourth in the 56th minute after a Kaio Jorge bicycle kick kept the ball in play and Veron slipped his way past the defender to tuck it in at the near post.

Russell-Rowe scored Canada’s goal in the 86th minute after Damiano Pecile won a header and Kamron Habibullah centered a pass to the striker just above the box. With three Brazilians around him, Russell-Rowe fired a shot that took a slight redirection off the foot of captain Henri.
 
Attendance for the opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 was 11,468.
 
ROAD TO THE FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2019
Canada qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 after winning 4-3 on kicks from the penalty mark over Concacaf rivals Costa Rica on 12 May. After 120 minutes in the Florida heat with no winner from a 1:1 draw, Canada won their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in six years.
 
This marks the seventh time that Canada advances to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the biennial competition that was initially launched as the FIFA U-16 World Tournament in 1985. Canada were the second hosts of the competition in 1987.
 
FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2019
Brazil’s experience as a host of global football competitions dates back almost 70 years to the 1950 FIFA World Cup™. More recently, the nation staged the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, which drew almost 3.5 million fans to packed stadiums in 12 Host Cities around the country. While recent major events held in Brazil have featured stars at the height of their careers, the FIFA U-17 World Cup brings together the best young footballers in the world for a unique opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage.
 
This will mark Canada’s seventh participation at the FIFA U-17 World Cup and first since 2011. From past editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Canadian youth players that went on to represent the Men’s National Team include Paul Peschisolido (Canada 1987), Mauro Biello (Scotland 1989), Jim Brennan (Japan 1993), Paul Stalteri (Japan 1993), Patrice Bernier (Ecuador 1995), Maxime Crépeau (Mexico 2011), Samuel Piette (Mexico 2011), and Marco Bustos (UAE 2013).
 
CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S EXCEL PROGRAM
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.
 
MEN’S EXCEL PROGRAM U-14 to U-23: https://www.canadasoccer.com/men-s-u-14-to-u-17-p144317
 
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 now 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. By reaching the semi-finals at both the 2019 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship and 2019 Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship, Canada finished top-four in two Concacaf men’s youth tournaments in the same year for the first time since 2001.