VANCOUVER, BC – Canada Soccer confirmed on Tuesday that three Vancouver Whitecaps FC BMO Academy players have been called up to Canada's U-17 men's national team squad for the upcoming 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Included on the roster are defender Sahil Deo, midfielder Yuma Tsuji, and forward Johnny Selemani. All three players are returning from the August camp in Spain, while also each playing with Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) in MLS NEXT Pro this season.
Canada are in Group K alongside Chile, France, and Uganda.
- Wednesday, November 5 vs. Uganda
- Saturday, November 8 vs. France
- Tuesday, November 11 vs. Chile
All three matches will be played within the Aspire Zone Sports Complex in Al Rayyan, with the Khalifa International Stadium set to host the tournament’s final. The top two teams in each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to the Round of 32 before the tournament progresses to the knockout phase.
"This group has grown a lot over the past year, and our ambition continues to drive us forward," said Mike Vitulano, men’s U-17 national team head coach and men’s regional excel director. "The players are determined to represent Canada with pride and purpose on the world stage. Our preparation in Dubai will be vital to build on the work from previous camps and ensure we’re ready to take on three strong opponents in the group stage. The belief within this team is real - we’re focused on improving every day and making our country proud."
Canada’s squad features an exciting mix of emerging talent from both domestic and international clubs. Eligible players must be born on or after January 1, 2008, with this year’s roster including representatives from professional academies in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Twelve players are currently part of Canadian Major League Soccer academies (CF Montréal, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and two players play regularly with Canadian Premier League teams (Atlético Ottawa and York United FC).
Canada booked its ticket to this year's FIFA U-17 World Cup™ by topping its group at the Concacaf Men’s U-17 Championship Qualifiers in Bermuda this February. The team finished first in Group A with a perfect 4-0-0 record, scoring 28 goals and conceding just two.
Canada will begin its pre-camp in Dubai on October 24 with a closed-doors preparatory friendly against Germany on October 30 before transitioning to Doha for the tournament phase on November 1.
Broadcast Information
All of Canada’s matches at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ will air live on TSN/RDS. Fans can follow extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X/Twitter, Bluesky, and YouTube, using the hashtag #CANM17.
