2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup – 24 teams make it to the Indian sojourn

The 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the 17th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the biennial international men's youth football championship contested by the U17 national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament will be hosted by India between 6th and 28th October 2017 and will be the first FIFA tournament hosted by the country. 24 teams from 6 different FIFA Confederations have made it to this edition of the U-17 World Cup.

The draw will be held on 7th July 2017 in Mumbai.

This is a relatively long read but it profiles the qualifying teams and the qualifying federations along with the host country and host cities.

The Road to India

Africa

Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Niger reached the semi-finals of the 2017 CAF Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Gabon to take Africa's spots at India 2017.

Asia

India, as the host country, is automatically qualified for the FIFA U-17 FIFA World Cup 2017. Iraq, Iran, Japan and Korea DPR joined the hosts in qualifying for India 2017 by virtue of reaching the semi-finals of the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship.

Europe

Spain, Turkey, England and Germany reached the 2017 UEFA European U-17 Championship semi-finals and, in doing so, secured berths at India 2017. They will be joined by France, who won a play-off match against Hungary.

North, Central America and Caribbean

The 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship was held in Panama from 21st April to 7th May 2017. Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and USA secured the four available spots for India 2017.

Oceania

The 2017 OFC U-17 Championship was held in Tahiti from 11th to 24th February 2017. New Caledonia and New Zealand reached the OFC final to qualify for India 2017.

South America

The 2017 South American U-17 Football Championship took place from 23rd February to 19th March 2017 in Chile. Paraguay, Chile, Brazil and Colombia collected the four available slots.

Host Country - India

The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 will be held in India. Although the country has organised a wide variety of sporting events, ranging from the Asian Games to the Commonwealth Games and world championships in sports like cricket and field hockey, it will be the first time that the planet’s second most populous country will host a FIFA event. Discover India, here. This World Cup will be held across 6 cities across India, namely:

Goa

Known as the “Pearl of the Orient”, Goa is located on the western coast of India. The utterly magnificent scenic beauty and architectural splendours of Goa will never cease to make one feel in awe. Goa is beaches and sea, but it is much more than that. Goa has a multi-hued and distinctive lifestyle from the rest of India because it has been the meeting point of races, religions and cultures of East and West over the years. A quintessential holiday Indian sojourn, Goa is India’s richest state with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country as a whole. 

Being a colony of the Portuguese, one thing that got embedded in Goan culture was the love for football. The culture of football in Goa is different from the rest of the country because of the idiosyncratic roots in the activities of an indigenized Catholic Church, an antiquity of emigration, and in the process of decolonisation. 

Stadium Name: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Capacity: 16,200

Total Matches: Group Matches: 6; Round of 16: 2; Quarter Final: 1

Ticketing: https://india2017wc.kyazoonga.com/VenuePackages/Pandit-Jawaharlal-Nehru-Stadium-Goa/1567

Guwahati

The gateway to the northeastern part of the country, Guwahati provides us with the perfect amalgam of hills, rivers and beautiful plains in between. The city of Guwahati is also known as the “Light of the East”, and is the commercial hub of the North East region. Thrust into the limelight over the past couple of years for the region’s affinity for sport, this capital city of the state of Assam is home to one of the country’s most passionately followed football clubs, North East United FC.

In fact, what makes the region of India stand out is the overwhelming dominance that football enjoys here over all other sports. From winning the national championship regularly in both the men’s and women’s category, across different age groups, Assam and its adjoining states have ensured that if there were to be a tag for being the “football capital of the country”, they would cumulatively emerge as the most deserving candidates.

Stadium Name: Indira Gandhi Athletic International Stadium

Capacity: 23,800

Total Matches: Group Matches: 6, Round of 16: 1, Quarter Final: 1, Semi Final: 1

Ticketing: https://india2017wc.kyazoonga.com/VenuePackages/Indira-Gandhi-Athletic-Stadium-Guwahati/1569

New Delhi

Much like Rome, New Delhi (the capital of the State of NCT Delhi and also the Capital of India) is beleaguered with the ruins of lost empires. Once home to the iconic Mughal kings, it is situated on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern half of the country. Currently the second largest metropolitan here, it includes 12 sub-cities, each narrating a tale of its own and providing us with the most diverse accumulation of people and culture around. Delhi has a stark contrast combining the ancient and the modern, Old and New Delhi, and yet, the two seamlessly manage to combine. Each reflects the images of the past and the present. A cosmopolitan hub, the capital city of India, is known for its varied diversities. 

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, renovated as recently as 2010 is a stunning piece of architecture, that looks spectacular from afar and can seat as many as 60,000 spectators.

Stadium Name: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Capacity: 58,000

Total Matches: Group Matches: 6, Round of 16: 2

Ticketing: https://india2017wc.kyazoonga.com/VenuePackages/Jawaharlal-Nehru-Stadium-New-Delhi/1531

Navi Mumbai

A relatively new city, Navi or “new” Mumbai was developed as a twin city for the commercial capital of India, Mumbai in 1972. It has since become one of the finest and largest well-planned townships of the world. For a developing country, the city perfectly demonstrates urbanisation in India. Navi Mumbai has now become a geographical part of Mumbai itself. Mumbai prides itself in the label of the “city that never sleeps”. Mumbai is the home of the country’s Hindi film industry, “Bollywood”, some of Asia’s biggest slums and the largest tropical forest in an urban zone, and provides a unique blend of uptown savviness and rural splendour.

The DY Patil Stadium is an excellently-maintained stadium and one that has remarkably been consistent in maintaining its standards.

Stadium Name: Dr. DY Patil Sports Stadium

Capacity: 45,300

Total Matches: Group Matches: 6, Round of 16: 1, Semi Final: 1

Ticketing: https://india2017wc.kyazoonga.com/VenuePackages/Dr--D-Y--Patil-Stadium-Navi-Mumbai/1566

Kochi

An incredibly vibrant city, Kochi, or Cochin, is situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula, in the beautiful state of Kerala, hailed as "God’s own Country". It’s importance as a major coastal city over the centuries can be illustrated by its sobriquet, “Queen of the Arabian Sea”. Serene Kochi is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the west. It’s proximity to the equator, the sea, as well as mountains, provide Kochi with a moderate equatorial climate. The vividness of the place is best exhibited by its geographical diversity, while mainland Ernakulam is the cosmopolitan hub of the city, sites like Fort Cochin and Mattancherry seamlessly take us back in time through their rustic charm.

Sports in Kerala have now become part of the mainstream culture, and in a cricket-obsessed nation, football is Kerala’s first love. Kerala prides itself on its footballing pedigree. India’s third-largest stadium, the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is located in Kochi and is touted to be one of the noisiest stadiums in the world, due to its distinct architecture and capacity of upto 60,000. 

Stadium Name: Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium

Capacity: 41,700

Total Matches: Group Matches: 6, Round of 16: 1, Quarter Final: 1

Ticketing: https://india2017wc.kyazoonga.com/VenuePackages/Jawaharlal-Nehru-International-Stadium-Kochi/1568

Kolkata

As the former capital of British India, Kolkata, formerly “Calcutta” presents us with a different blend of the orient and the occident. A place where colonial architecture, urban slums and dynamic new town suburbs manage to co-exist, the capital of the state of West Bengal is also regarded as India’s intellectual and culture capital. 

Steeped in historical and cultural heritage, the "City of Joy" also epitomises the craze for the beautiful game in the country the best. Home to one of the world’s most pulsating footballing derbies, the stadium here, once Asia’s largest, regularly boasts of attendances close to 100,000 spectators for fixtures. Other sporting heritage sites here are the Eden Gardens, the Calcutta Golf Course and the Netaji Subhash Indoor Stadium, all of which host international tournaments of repute year-in and year-out.

Stadium Name: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan

Capacity: 66,000

Total Matches: Group Matches: 6, Round of 16: 1, Quarter Final: 1, 3rd Place: 1, Final: 1

Ticketing: https://india2017wc.kyazoonga.com/VenuePackages/Vivekananda-Yuba-Bharati-Krirangan-Kolkata/1570

The draws as mentioned above, are to take place on 7th July 2017 in Mumbai but the city wise and group wise match list minus the teams has been published on the FIFA website.

Africa Qualified teams (4)

Ghana

Guinea

Mali

Niger

Asia Qualified teams (5)

India

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

Ranked in the lower reaches of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, India are strugglers even on the continental scene. In fact, the world's second-most populated country has made little impression on the international stage over the past four decades. They have never represented Asia in a FIFA tournament.

Road to India 

India, as the host country, have automatically qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017. Under previous manager Nicolai Adam, the team were held to a 3-3 draw against Saudi Arabia in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship, and while they were defeated by UAE and Iran in their other group stage games, they displayed encouraging progress.

The coach 

Portuguese coach Luis Norton de Matos assumed control of the Indian U-17 side in March 2017, replacing Adams who departed his role earlier in the year. De Matos represented Portugal at senior international level during his playing days and has coached a host of club sides in his homeland, as well as the Guinea-Bissau national side. 

"I do have an Indian connection as my great grandfather was born in Goa," De Matos revealed after his appointment. "I will retain the positives of the last two years as we move forward."

The stat 

7 – is how many times India have participated at the AFC U-16 Championship, but only once have they progressed past the first round. In 2002 the team managed to make it to the quarter-finals, their best result to date, where they were defeated by Korea Republic.

Iran

FIFA U-17 World Cup record 

After failing to qualify for the first eight tournaments, Iran competed at their first FIFA U-17 World Cup at Trinidad and Tobago 2001, where they suffered three defeats and finished bottom of their group. Eight years later, the Asian side participated in Nigeria 2009, where they advanced from their pool, but lost in the Round of 16 to Uruguay, 2-1 after extra time. At UAE 2013, they again reached the knockout stages, but again came unstuck, losing 4-1 to Nigeria, the eventual winners of the competition.

Road to India 

Iran topped Group A at the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship, due to their enjoying a better goal difference than second-placed UAE. They then made certain of their place at the U-17 World Cup by comfortably disposing of Vietnam (5-0) in the quarter-finals, before beating Korea DPR in the semi-finals via a penalty shoot-out, following a 1-1 draw. In the final versus Iraq, which failed to produce a goal after 120 minutes of football, the Iranians were involved in another shoot-out, but this time ended up on the wrong end of the scoreline (3-4).

The coach 

Abbas Chamanyan coached a number of clubs prior to being handed the reins of the Iranian U-20 national team in 2002. The following year, he took charge of the U-17 team for the first time, guiding them to a fourth-place finish at the 2004 AFC U-17 Championship. Although he did not manage to qualify his charges for the 2005 U-17 World Cup, the 53-year-old tactician returned to the helm in 2016 and subsequently oversaw their qualification for India 2017 via the AFC U-16 Championship.

The stat 

4 – The number of Iranian players who scored a total of three goals at the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship. Ali Reza Asadabadi, Allahyar Sayyad, Mohammad Sharifi and Mohammad Ghaderi scored 12 of the 13 goals recorded by Iran in the competition, with Amir Khodamoradi bagging the 13th.

Iraq

FIFA U-17 World Cup record 

Iraq have only one FIFA U-17 World Cup appearance to their name, at UAE 2013. That experience was not particularly memorable as they finished last in Group F. Iraq lost all three of their matches, against Sweden, Mexico and Nigeria, the teams that eventually claimed first, second and third place in the tournament.

Road to India 

Iraq emerged victorious from the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship, defeating Iran in the final to become Asian champions for the first time. After finishing second in Group C, they saw off the challenge of Uzbekistan (2-0) in the quarter-finals, booking their berth at India 2017 in the process. In the last four, the young Iraqis eliminated Japan, prior to getting the better of Iran on penalties after the showpiece match had ended 0-0.

The coach 

Qahtan Jathir made history by guiding his charges to Iraq’s first-ever AFC U-16 Championship success in October 2016. His playing career began at Iraqi club Al Talaba, and also included spells in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, during which time he represented Iraq at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup. Jathir hung up his boots in 2007, and went on to coach Al-Sinaa, Al-Najaf and Al-Shorta.

The stat 

6 – After failing to find the net in the first two matches of the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship, forward Mohammed Dawood made a welcome breakthrough against Oman in Iraq’s final group-stage match, and then notched a brace against Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals and a hat-trick versus Japan in the last four. This delayed burst of attacking play earned the striker the top goalscorer and player of the tournament awards.

Japan

FIFA U-17 World Cup record 

Japan will be featuring in their eighth FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, having reached the quarter-finals on two occasions. The East Asians, under Tadatoshi Komine, shone on their global debut in 1993 where they reached the last-eight as hosts. On the way they drew 0-0 with Italy and saw off Mexico 2-1 to seal progression, only to be eliminated by eventual champions Nigeria by the same scoreline. They emulated that feat at Mexico 2011, progressing to the Round of 16 after winning a tough group which also featured Argentina, France and Jamaica. The Japanese then fired six unanswered goals past New Zealand, but were edged out by Brazil 3-2 to miss out on a place in the last four. They made a cleansweep of the group stage at UAE 2013 only to lose against Sweden in the Round of 16.

Road to India 

After missing qualification for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Japan impressed in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship earning a ticket to India 2017 in style. They topped their group in remarkable fashion with thumping wins overs Australia, Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan. A tough 1-0 win over United Arab Emirates in the quarter-final secured passage to the world stage but Japan, however, were undone by an in-form Iraq.

The coach 

Hirofumi Yoshitake boasts lengthy experience of what it takes to achieve success at this level, having led the team in both the 2011 and 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cups. Yoshitake, who names Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands side of the 1970s as his biggest influence, led Japan to their best U-17 achievement of recent years – a quarter-final appearance in 2011.

The stat 

24 – Japan were comfortably top goalscorers in the AFC U-16 Championship. They netted an incredible 24 goals in just five games to score almost twice as many as any of their rivals.

Korea DPR

FIFA U-17 World Cup record 

Korea DPR’s first bid for the FIFA U-17 World Cup dates all the way back to 1986. However, maiden qualification didn't come until 2004 when the Young Chollima finished the Asian campaign as runners-up. After emulating the same feat two years later, Korea DPR won their first continental title in 2010 to seal their appearance at Mexico 2011. They have progressed beyond the group phase on three occasions – 2005, 2007 and also 2015 where they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by eventual runners-up Mali.

Road to India 

Of the four Asian qualifiers for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Korea DPR were arguably the least impressive. Aside from a 4-1 win over Thailand, Korea DPR displayed trademark pragmatism with goalscoring at a premium. They defeated Yemen 2-0 but rounded out the group campaign with a 3-1 defeat by Uzbekistan. Qualification for India 2017 came via a penalty shoot-out win over Oman, before a defeat on penalties against Iran in the semi-final.

The coach 

Korea DPR’s Yun Jong Su is a highly experienced figure in his native land having enjoyed a lengthy international playing career, before embarking on a prosperous coaching career. He featured in several FIFA World Cup? campaigns commencing with qualifiers for Mexico 86. As a coach he led the senior national team during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and has coached extensively at youth international level, with an AFC U-20 Championship win in 2010 perhaps his most notable success.

The stat 

2 – Despite reaching the semi-finals of the AFC U-16 Championship, Korea DPR won just two of their five matches.

Europe Qualified teams (5)

England

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

Despite a strong tradition of qualifying for global finals in the senior and U-20 editions, England only reached their inaugural FIFA U-17 World Cup a decade ago, with India 2017 representing the Young Lions’ fourth outing on the global stage at this age level. Their debut at Korea 2007 saw a side including Danny Welbeck reach the quarter-finals where they were well beaten by Germany. At Mexico 2011, the Germans once more dispatched their English counterparts, who had Raheem Sterling amongst their number. Last time out, at Chile 2015, Neil Dewsnip’s side failed to reach the knockout stages.

Road to India

England headed into the 2017 UEFA U-17 European Championship finals full of confidence, thanks to a 100 per cent record in both the qualifying round and elite round. The Young Lions’ self-assuredness was fully justified as they missed out on the title at Croatia 2017 by a matter of seconds, due to a dramatic final against Spain. Having reached India 2017 by seeing off British Isles rivals Republic of Ireland in the quarter-final, and reaching the continental finale by defeating Turkey, Nacho Diaz’s equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time saw the final go to a penalty shootout. The Spaniards converted all four of their spot kicks to emerge victorious, with England only able to net a sole penalty in reply.

The coach 

After coaching varying youth sides at Liverpool before working his way up to the role of academy manager at the club, Steve Cooper took on the role of England U-16 coach in 2014 before graduating to the U-17 side a year later. The Welshman assumed full control of the U-17s after Dewsnip, who guided the Young Lions on an interim basis at Chile 2015, continued his work with the U-18s full time.

“We’ve qualified for the World Cup in India, which was one of the objectives of the tournament,” Cooper said after his side’s U-17 UEFA EURO final defeat to Spain. “We’ll continue with our work, everything that we do with the national teams is with the long term in mind.”

The stat

11 - matches won on the bounce by England throughout UEFA U-17 European Championship qualifying, elite rounds and the finals themselves before the 2-2 draw in the final against Spain, which preceded their penalty shootout heartbreak.

France

Germany

Spain

Turkey

North, Central America and Caribbean Qualified teams (4)

Costa Rica

FIFA U-17 World Cup record 

India 2017 will represent Costa Rica’s tenth appearance on the global stage at U-17 level, with their most successful period coming in the four tournaments between 2001 and 2007, when they reached the quarter-finals on every occasion. Despite not qualifying for UAE 2011 and Mexico 2013, Los Ticos were successful last time out at Chile 2015, beating France on penalties to win a knockout game for the first time at the U-17 World Cup before bowing out to Belgium in the last eight.

Road to India 

Costa Rica won all four games as hosts of the Central American qualifying zone to reach the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship on a hot streak. Once at Panama 2017, they coasted through the initial group stage, with another 100 per cent record, defeating Cuba, Canada and Suriname to reach the classification round. Despite suffering a heavy 6-1 defeat at the hands of eventual champions Mexico, Los Ticos finished second courtesy of their slender 2-1 win over Panama, and in the process advanced to India 2017.

The coach 

Breansse Camacho took the reins of his country’s U-17 side in 2016, taking over from the Argentine Marcelo Herrera, who he had assisted at Chile 2015. Camacho has held numerous roles as assistant and coach in the various Costa Rican youth sides, notably heading to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 as part of the coaching set-up.

The stat 

16 – The number of goals that Costa Rica scored without reply in four matches in Central American qualifying for the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, where they went on to score 11 more in five games.

Honduras

FIFA U-17 World Cup record 

Having played no part in the opening two decades of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Honduras have been something of a mainstay over the past ten years. Los Catrachos graced the event for the first time at Korea Republic 2007 and, while they failed to win a game there or next time out at Nigeria 2009, they reached the quarter-finals at UAE 2013 having missed out on Mexico 2011. Last time out, the Hondurans once more failed to register a win, bowing out at the group stages of Chile 2015.

Road to India

Honduras finished second behind a dominant Costa Rica in the Central American zone qualifiers to reach the CONCACAF U-17 Championship. Once at the finals, they were defeated by hosts Panama, but recovered by beating Curacao and Haiti to reach the classification round. A hugely impressive 7-1 victory over Cuba, with Carlos Mejia and Patrick Palacios both grabbing hat tricks, teed up their progression to India, despite a 3-0 defeat to USA.

The coach

Jose Valladares is vastly experienced at this age level, having taken charge of Los Catrachos at both UAE 2013 and Chile 2015. Also on his CV is a brief stint in charge of Nicaraguan side CD Walter Ferretti, who he steered to a second place finish in the country’s top flight last year.

The stat

7 – The number of matches it took for Honduras to win their first U-17 World Cup game. Their seventh match at the global finals was against the hosts at UAE 2013, with Brayan Velasquez’s 86th minute winner securing the historic victory.

Mexico

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

Since the turn of the century, Mexico have enjoyed something of a golden era at U-17 level. Between 2010 and 2013, Raul Gutierrez continued the superb work of his predecessors, including their inaugural FIFA U-17 World Cup title at Peru 2005, by leading El Tri to a second world title on home soil in 2011. Two years later in the UAE, Gutierrez and his charges almost repeated the feat, only to lose 3-0 to a superb Nigeria in the final. It is testament to their recent success at this level that Mexico’s fourth-place finish at Chile 2015, losing to old foes Nigeria in the semi-finals, represented something of a disappointment for El Tri.

Road to India

Despite ultimately claiming the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, Mexico endured a few bumps along the road to India 2017. Pitted against old rivals USA in the initial group stage, they were defeated 4-3 by the Stars and Stripes in an epic encounter in Panama City. However, they made short work of almost all other opponents at Panama 2017, picking up comprehensive victories against El Salvador and Jamaica to reach the classification stage where they demolished Costa Rica and squeezed past the hosts to reach the continental final and the global finals. A stoppage-time equaliser against USA in the Panama 2017 final meant a penalty shootout, which El Tri won to seal their seventh U-17 continental title.

The coach

Mario Arteaga took charge of Mexico last time out at Chile 2015, guiding the two-time champions to fourth place, following a thrilling semi-final defeat to eventual champions Nigeria and an equally exciting defeat in the play-off for third place to Belgium.

The stat

22 – The number of goals Mexico scored in just six games at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, a tally not bettered by any of their opponents at the continental finals.

USA

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

USA have participated in 15 of the 16 editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, having only missed out in 2013. The Stars and Stripes best showing to date has been at New Zealand 1999, where they came fourth, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final after losing to Australia on penalties in the semi-finals. The Americans reached the quarter-finals on four other occasions, most recently at Peru 2005. Last time out at Chile 2015, USA failed to emerge from the group stage for the first time since 2001.

Road to India

Despite eventually losing to Mexico in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship final on penalties, the USA’s most notable achievement at Panama 2017, aside from reaching the U-17 World Cup itself, was defeating El Tri 4-3 in a group stage thriller. The win was the USA U-17 side’s first victory against their arch-rivals in the history of the continental finals, and put an end to Mexico’s 25-game unbeaten streak in the tournament. USA impressed throughout the qualifying tournament, winning every game up to the dramatic finale, which saw Mexico equalise in stoppage time before sealing a shootout victory.

The coach

John Hackworth took over from Richie Williams, who was at the helm for USA’s disappointing performance at Chile 2015, as the USA’s U-17 coach in late 2015. The Florida native has previously been an assistant for the U-17 national team, and head coach at MLS side Philadelphia Union. He will be the last man to take charge of a U-17 national team that has been part of the USSF’s (United States Soccer Federation) Residency programme, which will be disbanded after the finals.

The stat

5 – Almost half of the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship’s ‘Best XI’, as voted by the Technical Study Group of the tournament, were from USA: goalkeeper Justin Garces, defenders Jaylin Lindsey and James Sands, midfielder Chris Durkin and forward Josh Sargent all made the cut.

Oceania Qualified teams (2)

New Caledonia

FIFA U-17 World Cup record 

New Caledonia will be making their debut at a FIFA tournament when they take the field at India 2017. Despite being Oceania’s newest member – they were admitted to FIFA only in 2004 – New Caledonia boast a rich football history. The Federation was founded in 1928 with teams from Australia and New Zealand touring in the immediate decades which followed. New Caledonia competed in the initial OFC U-17 Championship in 1983 (which then a U-16 event), and they reached the final in 2003 though were ineligible to qualify for the World Cup at that point.

Road to India 

New Caledonia were made to work overtime to earn their ticket to India. They collected tough one goal wins over Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, sandwiched either side of a draw against hosts Tahiti. That undefeated group stage campaign set up a semi-final meeting against Solomon Islands, with New Caledonia collecting World Cup qualification with a 3-2 win that was more comfortable than the scoreline indicated. Having achieved their primary aim, New Caledonia capitulated to a 7-0 defeat against New Zealand in the championship decider in what was their fifth match in 14 days.

The coach 

Dominique Wacalie assumed the reins from Michael Clarque in April 2017, with the latter having led the team through their historic qualification campaign earlier in the year. One of the nation’s young brigade of coaches, Wacalie previously held the role of regional Technical Director in New Caledonia. A former midfielder, Wacalie retired only in 2014 having featured in Les Cagous’ 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil? campaign after a career that included several years in France’s lower leagues.

The stat 

6 – New Caledonia’s qualification means they will become the sixth current OFC member to feature in a FIFA World Cup.

New Zealand

FIFA U-17 World Cup record 

India 2017 will mark New Zealand’s eighth participation in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and their sixth in succession. It is a tournament in which New Zealand has enjoyed significant accomplishment. Their debut was at Egypt 1997 in what was one of the nation’s first FIFA competition. Two years later New Zealand played host to the tournament; the first to be held in Oceania, aside from those hosted by former OFC member Australia. New Zealand’s team at Nigeria 2009 etched their name into the nation’s football annals by becoming the first Kiwi team to progress to the knockout phase of a FIFA tournament. They repeated the feat at Mexico 2011, and then again two years ago in Chile where New Zealand suffered a 1-0 injury-time defeat against Brazil in the Round of 16.

Road to India 

New Zealand claimed a sixth successive OFC U-17 Championship win but victory in Tahiti was not without its challenges. They topped their group with three successive wins, but victory in the decisive semi-final against Papua New Guinea was in doubt until injury time when New Zealand found a winner. Having secured passage to India, the Kiwis celebrated in style with an outstanding 7-0 win over New Caledonia in the final.

The coach 

Danny Hay is heading to his second successive FIFA U-17 World Cup after leading the team into the last-16 at Chile 2015. This, however, will be his first full cycle with the team, having been appointed in April 2015, after the qualifying tournament. A former centre-back, Hay enjoyed a distinguished international playing career that included the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and captaining his country.

The stat 

27 – New Zealand scored 27 goals in just five qualifying matches, yet two of their wins were by a single goal.

South America Qualified teams (4)

Brazil

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

Brazil are a formidable force in the age group, having won the FIFA U-17 World Cup three times and only missed the finals once, an appearance record that only USA have matched to date. The Brazilians’ three competition wins came in 1997, 1999 and 2003, and they lie second on the tournament’s roll of honour behind Nigeria, who have won it five times. A Canarinha also finished runners-up in 1995 and 2005, third in 1985 and fourth in 2011. That solitary absence came at Japan 1993.

The road to India

Brazil went unbeaten in lifting this year's South American U-17 title, winning seven of their matches and drawing the other two. Their domination of the competition was underlined by the fact that they scored more goals than any other side (24), conceded fewer (three) and boasted both the leading goalscorer (Vinicius, with seven) and the player providing most assists (Alan, with five). The Brazilians clinched the continental title with a 5-0 defeat of hosts Chile, the only side that could have denied them it.

The coach

After doing a solid job in the youth ranks at Vitoria, Carlos Amadeu took charge of the Brazil U-17 side in May 2015, in the lead-up to the U-17 World Cup in Chile that year, where he steered the team to the last eight before they were knocked out by eventual champions Nigeria. Revealing his coaching philosophy to FIFA.com at the time, he said: “My priority is to play attacking football in the true Brazilian style, as well as to win, because our culture is also about targeting first place.”

The stat

7 - the number of clean sheets Brazil kept in the South American qualifiers, with all those games ending in victory for them

Chile

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

India 2017 will be Chile’s fourth appearance at a FIFA U-17 World Cup and their second in a row after hosting the tournament in 2015. Their tournament debut came at Japan 1993, where they took everyone by surprise in finishing third, their best performance to date. Knocked out in the group phase in Egypt 1997, the Chileans reached the last 16 on home soil two years ago. 

The road to India

Chile qualified for the world finals by finishing runners-up in the South American U-17 Championship, which it hosted. After topping Group A, La Rojita beat Venezuela and Colombia 1-0 in the final six-team round before losing their unbeaten record in a 2-0 defeat to Paraguay. Another 1-0 win, this time over Ecuador, secured them a place at India 2017 and left them in with a chance of claiming the continental crown on the final day of the competition. It was not to be, however, as Brazil put one more goal past them than all their other opponents combined, running out 5-0 winners.

The coach

Hernan Caputo is a former Argentinian goalkeeper who spent most of his 15-year career in Chile and took out Chilean nationality as a result. His first major coaching post came in 2013, two years after he retired, when he took charge of Chile’s U-15 side. Though he left the post in late 2015, he was appointed by the Chilean FA to the U-17 job in March 2016, a decision he justified by overseeing the team’s first successful qualifying campaign in the age group in 20 years.

The stat

1-0 - the scoreline in all five of Chile’s wins in the South American qualifiers.

Colombia

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

India 2017 will be Colombia’s sixth appearance at a FIFA U-17 World Cup and their first since Nigeria 2009, when they finished third and matched their previous best performance at the tournament, dating back to Finland 2003. In their other appearances, Los Cafeteros reached the Round of 16 at Korea Republic 2007 but exited at the group stage at both Scotland 1989 and Japan 1993.

The road to India

Colombia secured their World Cup berth by virtue of their third-placed finish at this year’s South American U-17 Championship. Two wins, one draw and one defeat saw them take second place in Group A behind Chile and move comfortably into the hexagonal final phase. Things were more complicated there, though, with an opening victory over Ecuador (2-1) followed by a draw with Venezuela and losses to Chile (1-0) and Brazil (3-0). With World Cup qualification on the line, they then bounced back with a 2-1 win over Paraguay to seal their passage.

The coach

Though never a professional player, Colombian Orlando Restrepo has been a lifetime student of the game. On top of that he is also a sports technology practitioner and physical education instructor. The 60-year-old has racked up extensive coaching experience at club level in his homeland, Bolivia and Costa Rica while enjoying a successful spell with Atletico Nacional’s U-17 side between 2013 and 2015. He has been in charge of the national U-17 team since August 2016.

The stat

3 - The number of goals scored by each of Santiago Barrero, Juan Penaloza and Jaminton Campaz. Between them, the trio accounted for 75 per cent of Colombia’s goal tally during the qualifying event.

Paraguay

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

India 2017 will be Paraguay’s fourth appearance at a FIFA U-17 World Cup. Their debut, and best result to date, came at New Zealand 1999, where they finished fifth. However, they failed to progress beyond the group stage in their two subsequent appearances, at Trinidad and Tobago 2001 and Chile 2015.

The road to India

Paraguay secured their World Cup berth thanks to their third-placed finish at this year’s South American U-17 Championship. Two wins and two draws in the first phase earned them second spot in Group B behind Brazil and a place in the six-team final round. There they drew with Brazil and Ecuador (both 2-2) before beating Chile (2-0) and Venezuela (3-1) to stamp their ticket to India with one game to spare. Their final fixture was a 2-1 reverse at the hands of Colombia.

The coach

A tidy midfielder in his day, the Paraguayan Gustavo Morinigo enjoyed a 15-year playing career that took him from his homeland to Argentina and Colombia. At international level, he represented Los Guaranies at both the FIFA U-20 World Cup Malaysia 1997 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan?. Morinigo made his coaching debut in 2012, a year after hanging up his boots, and would go on to coach the Paraguyan U-20 team between spells in charge of Nacional and Cerro Porteno. He took up the reins of the U-17s in 2016.

The stat

1.77 - Paraguay’s goals-per-game average during the qualifiers. With 16 strikes in total, they had the second most potent attack of South America’s four qualified sides behind that of champions Brazil. Moreover, they were the only team to score against A Sele??o during the tournament, a feat they managed on three occasions.

Reference material - FIFA.com