Canada will kick off the 2017 CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship with a tough Friday test against rivals Honduras. The two sides will meet in the competition's opening match as CONCACAF's 12 remaining nations fight for four berths to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017.
All of the competition matches are scheduled to be broadcast live on CONCACAF's Facebook channel, with Friday’s Canada-Honduras opener kicking off at 3:30 p.m. PT. Canada Soccer will provide in-match coverage from Estadio Saprissa via Canada Soccer's digital channels including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Flickr.
Canada’s roster features WFC2 fullback Kadin Chung (Port Coquitlam, B.C.), U-18 Residency goalkeeper Thomas Hasal (Saskatoon, SK), and Whitecaps FC Residency graduates Aymar Sigue (St. Albert, AB) and Dario Zanatta (Victoria, B.C.).
“There is good experience in the group along with our Canadian resilience and character, but we also feel that we are 20 players strong and that anyone can contribute when called upon,” said Rob Gale, Canada Soccer's men's national U-20 team coach. “Our boys feel that we can mix it with anyone of our opponents at the CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship, so this competition is important to them and it does matter that we are here representing Canada.”
Canada, Honduras, Mexico, and Antigua and Barbuda are the four nations that will face each other in a round robin format from February 17-23. After playing three matches each, two nations will advance to the second round while two nations will head home eliminated.
Fans can follow Canada throughout the CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship in Costa Rica, with group matches on February 17 (Honduras), February 20 (Mexico), and February 23 (Antigua & Barbuda). The 12-nation competition continues through to the championship final on March 5.
