By Paul Gardner FIFA’s Under-17 World Cup — for me, the liveliest and the most enjoyable of all the global tournaments — has, since its first edition in China in 1985,always been played under a heavy cloud of suspicion. I covered 10 of the first 11 tournaments, and learned very quickly that there were always […]
u-17 world cup
Posted inAround The Net in Soccer World Daily, Story
Nigeria sends home 26 U-17s who fail age test
Nigeria, winner of the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, had 26 players fail an age test at the U-17 team’s camp in Abuja ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations U-17 qualifying match against Niger. All the playerswho failed the test left the camp. Many of the expected starters passed the test, though. FIFA introduced MRI […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Bahrain eliminates U.S. U-19 men in game marred by brawl
By Mike Woitalla The U.S. U-19 men’s national team, after having upset host Spain, was eliminated from the Sub-20 l’Acudia COTIF tournament with a 3-1 loss to Bahrain in a gamethat ended with a brawl. Coach Brad Friedel’s team entered its final Group A game, after opening with a 2-0 loss to Venezuela and 1-0 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Former U.S. U-17 captain Arellano signs with Galaxy II
Defender Hugo Arellano, who captained the USA at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, has signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy’s USL team, LA Galaxy II. The 18-year-old, who had committed to UCLA,becomes the 16th player from the 21-player roster on last year’s U-17 World Cup squad to join a pro club. Arellano, who this year […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
John Hackworth: India experience provides valuable lessons for U.S. U-17 boys
By Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla In its third international tournament of the year, the U.S. U-17 boysnational team finished runner-up at the AIFF Youth Cup in India, which will host the 2017 U-17 World Cup for which Coach John Hackworth team’s aims to qualify. A free-kickgoal with six minutes left in overtime gave South Korea a 2-1 […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Roster: U.S. U-17 boys head to France
The U.S. U-17 boys national team (2000s) are competing at the 44th International Montaigu Tournament in France March 18-29. U.S. U-16 national team coach Shaun Tsakiris iscoaching the 20-player USA squad, which faces Brazil (March 22), England (March 24) and Russia (March 26) in group play. (U.S. U-17 head coach John Hackworth is assisting the […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
The Matthew Olosunde odyssey, from Trenton to Manchester United
By Mike Woitalla Of course, a soccer crazy boy like Matthew Olosunde played ball in the house, and broke stuff. Even living-room windows. But he didn’t getin trouble. “No, no,” says his father, Peter Olosunde. “He never got in trouble. Because he has this innocent face he comes to you with and it makes itimpossible […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
USA aims for return to U-17 Women's World Cup
By Mike Woitalla The USA may be a world power in women’s soccer, but its U-17 girls program has struggled on the world stage. After finishing runner-up at theinaugural U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008, the USA failed to qualify in 2010, exited in the first round of the 2012 World Cup — albeit without […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Making a List: 2015 U-17s in the pros
Joshua Perez, nephew of former U.S. World Cup player Hugo Perez, signed with Italy’s Fiorentina, becoming the 13th member of the 21-man team that represented the USA at the 2015 Under-17World Cup to turn pro. Perez is one of four players in Europe, while two players each are at clubs in MLS, the NASL, USL […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Dennis te Kloese on Mexican success and the USA's challenges
Interview by Mike Woitalla Dennis te Kloese, the Mexican soccer federation’s director of youth national teams, served as Chivas USA’s director of soccer in2005-08. The Dutchman, who first moved to Mexico in 2003 to become Chivas Guadalajara’s scouting director, was also Tigres UANL’s academy director in 2008-2011. Currently in his secondstint with Mexican federation, we […]