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U.S. U-17s draw Czech Rep., Uzbekistan and New Zealand for World Cup

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

The path to Mexico City is set.

The United States Under-17 national team learned the identities of its opponents for the group stage of this summer's FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico in Tuesday's draw.

The Americans will open Group D play on June 19 against the Czech Republic in Torreon. Three days later they'll face Uzbekistan in the same venue before traveling to Pachuca for a June 25 encounter against New Zealand.

New Zealand won the Oceania U-17 qualifying tournament, Uzbekistan was the runner up in the Asian championships and the Czech Republic finished third in its UEFA U-17 qualifying group to secure its bid. The United States won the CONCACAF U-17 tournament in February.

Should the United States win its group, it would face a third-place finisher in the Round of 16. If Wilmer Cabrera's squad finishes in second, it would face the winner of Group E (Germany, Panama, Ecuador, Burkina Faso). The top four third-place teams also advance to the knockout stage.

Here's all six groups for this summer's event:

FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP

Group A

  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • North Korea
  • Congo

Group B

  • Argentina
  • France
  • Japan
  • Jamaica

Group C

  • England
  • Uruguay
  • Canada
  • Rwanda

Group D

  • United States
  • Czech Republic
  • Uzbekistan
  • New Zealand

Group E

  • Germany
  • Ecuador
  • Panama
  • Burkina Faso

Group F

  • Brazil
  • Ivory Coast
  • Australia
  • Denmark

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What do you think about the United States' group? Which group do you see being the toughest?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Apparently this Czech team is the worst team to qualify from Europe, but their GK is the best out of all the European teams

    Reply
  2. The problem is kids age so much after the age of 16/17 that it’s hard to see where they mature. Some get better, some get worse. Some grow, some stay small. Some get injured before they make their mark, some decide to do something different.

    The hard part is at the end of the day, they’re kids and there should be no expectations placed on them. Go out, enjoy yourselves and remember the moment for the rest of your life.

    Reply
  3. I remember looking back at that AME. Not many of these kids will make it at the senior level. Most likely the kids who didn’t make the cut will work harder and end up on the men’s team. I think Drogba played in the U-17 or U-20’s as a bench warmer and never played a minute. That might have given him more drive.

    Reply
  4. How many of these kids actually make it big in world club soccer? Does anyone know where to see rosters of a U-17 World Cup in the mid-late 90’s?

    Are there 8-9 kids on each team who will be representing their country in a senior WC? Or is the number closer to 1-2?

    Just curious as I actually have no idea….

    Reply
  5. Is it true that Andrew Oliver was sent home from Residency and will not be playing in Mexico? Does anyone know Kellen Gulley’s status?

    Reply
  6. It’s a pretty good draw for the US. Czech Republic is likely to be tough, but might struggle with Mexican heat and altitude. Uzbekistan and New Zeland are quite beatable.

    Reply

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