There are six nations left on the road to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018 with only three spots up for grabs at the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship. Having been suspended because of civil unrest in Nicaragua, the competition this week resumes as Canada faces Costa Rica and USA in a pair of group matches before qualification matches on Sunday and Tuesday.
 
Fans can watch the Canada-Costa Rica match live via Youtube.com/Concacaf this Wednesday 6 June at 14.45 local / 14.45 ET / 11.45 PT. Throughout the competition, fans can follow the Canadian team across Canada Soccer’s digital channels including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 
Canada already have one victory in Group B action, a 3:0 win over Bermuda back on 20 April. The competition has now shifted to Bradenton, FL, USA with Canada’s remaining group matches against Costa Rica on 6 June and host USA on 8 June. From those four nations, only two will advance to the semi-final phase with a chance to qualify for Uruguay 2018.
 
“They have been driving high standards off the pitch and working things through together on the pitch, so it is a very focused group ahead of this next match,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National EXCEL Director U-15 to U-23. “There is focus and excitement to get that (Wednesday) match underway.”
 
In the opposite group, two nations have already been eliminated, with an upcoming Mexico v Haiti match on 8 June to determine the group winner. Both Mexico and Haiti will advance to the semi-finals to face opponents from Group B on 10 June.
 
“Our girls are in a really good space and the pre-tournament camp has been great,” said Priestman. “We have been preparing in the Florida setting which has allowed us to get used to the rain, the wind, and the heat. We have put everything into making sure that this group is prepared.”
 
The Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship provides an important development step on the pathway to the Women’s National Team and future FIFA Women’s World Cups and Olympic Football Tournaments.
 
“The Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship is a great window and key development step for young, talented players to gain unique tournament experiences and be pitted against some good opposition in a major competition,” said Priestman. “We know and have seen that these competitions and environments provide young players with the chance to bloom and find new personal bests.”
 
Under an aligned Women’s EXCEL Program, the 20 Canadian players will have collectively accumulated more than 2,000 player days in Canada Soccer’s women’s youth program by the time their competition starts on 20 April. Three players (Teni Akindoju, Jayde Riviere, and Caitlin Shaw) have already accumulated more than 200 camp days and three players have already earned their first call up to the Women’s National Team (Riviere, Jordyn Huitema, and Ariel Young).
 
All 20 players are also currently enrolled at Canada Soccer’s Super EXCEL Centres in British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec, including two which came from Regional EXCEL Centres in Nova Scotia and Alberta.
 
CANADA SOCCER’S WOMEN’S EXCEL PROGRAM
Canada Soccer’s Women’s EXCEL Program brings together the best with best at the national youth level from the U-14 to U-20 age groups. The program delivers an aligned talent structure that progresses players from the youth levels to the Women’s National Team. Across Concacaf, FIFA, and other youth competitions, players develop the Women’s EXCEL Program Playing Model and benefit from invaluable tournament expertise.
 
Additionally, Canada Soccer’s most talented U-14 to U-18 players are offered a specialised daily training environment through the Women’s EXCEL Centres. The program delivers Canada Soccer’s national curriculum through a two-tiered talent system, with three EXCEL Super Centres in British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec supported by smaller Regional EXCEL Centres positioned across the country.
 
Since 2002, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Teams have won four Concacaf titles: the 2004 and 2008 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Canada have qualified for seven editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all five editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.