The USA kicks off its 2017 U-17 World Cup campaign against host India on Friday (10:30 a.m. ET, FS2, Universo) before facing Ghana on Monday and Colombia on Thursday.
Coach JohnHackworth’s team will aim to become the first U.S. team to win a knockout-stage game at a U-17 World Cup since the USA finished fourth in 1999.
“We feel good about our chancesat this tournament because of the success we’ve had over the last two years,” said Hackworth. “Team morale is great, the boys are loose, they’re confident. Our expectation isthat we play up to and hopefully exceed the potential that our staff sees in them and they see in themselves. And if they do that, then I think we have a really good chance in thistournament.”
Besides aiming to at least exceed the previous U.S. run, a first-round exit under Coach Richie Williams in 2015, one hopes Hackworth’s team provides aglimpse future U.S. stars.
Meet the 21 U.S. 2017 U-17 World Cupplayers
“This tournament is kind of a springboard for the rest of their career, especially the immediate next step,” said Hackworth.
Here’s a look at how the USA hasfared in previous U-17 World Cups and notable players from those appearances.
2015 Chile (host)
The USA exited in the first roundafter a 2-0 loss to eventual champion Nigeria, a 2-2 tie with Croatia, and a 4-1 loss to host Chile.
Notable Players: ChristianPulisic is already a starter for Borussia Dortmund and the U.S. senior national team. Auston Trusty, Luca de la Torre and Tyler Adams playedfor the USA at the 2017 U-20 World Cup. Adams has been starting for the New York Red Bulls this season. Brandon Vazquez has made 10 appearances off the bench for Atlanta United thisseason. Hugo Arellano has started four games for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Haji Wright is playing for German second division Sandhausen.
Final: Nigeria 2 Mali 0
Christian Pulisic made his Bundesliga debut forBorussia Dortmund three months after playing in the 2015 U-17 World Cup. (Photo courtesy of Borussia Dortmund)
2013UAE
USA did not qualify.
U.S. coach: Richie Williams.
Final: Nigeria 3 Mexico 0.
2011 Mexico
The USA opened with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic,followed with a 2-1 loss to Uzbekistan, a 1-1 tie with New Zealand and, in the round of 16, a 4-0 loss to Germany.
Notable players:Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas) and Paul Arriola (D.C. United after five years with Tijuana Xolos) are both part of the USA’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. Arriolaplayed in the 2015 U-20 World Cup and Acosta played in the 2013 and 2015 U-20 World Cups. Dillon Serna is in his sixth season with the Colorado Rapids, for which he has played 69 MLSgames. Jack McBean has made MLS 36 appearances for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
U.S coach: Wilmer Cabrera.
Final: Mexico 2 Uruguay 0.
2009 Nigeria
After opening with a 2-1 loss to Spain, the USA beat Malawi 1-0 and UAE1-0 and advanced to the second round, where it fell to Italy, 2-1.
Notable players: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution)has 27 senior national team caps and three goals, and is part of USA’s 2018 World Cup qualifying squad. Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Jack McInerney (Los Angeles Galaxy)and Perry Kitchen each played more than 150 MLS games. Kitchen is now with Danish club Randers.
U.S. coach: WilmerCabrera.
Final: Switzerland 1 Nigeria 0.
2007 South Korea
One win(2-0 over Belgium), despite losses to Tajikistan (4-3) and Tunisia (3-1), was enough to send the USA to the second round, where it fell to Germany, 2-1.
Notable players: Brek Shea (Vancouver Whitecaps), now in his eighth MLS season, made 27 senior national team appearances in 2010-2015 and scored thewinning goal of the 2013 Gold Cup final. Greg Garza (Atlanta United) has made 10 senior national team appearances. Faud Ibrahim represented Ethiopia at the 2013Africa Cup of Nations. Sheanon Williams (Vancouver Whitecaps), Kofi Sarkodie (San Jose Earthquakes), Danny Cruz, now with USL Monarchs after sevenyears in MLS, and Zak MacMath (Colorado Rapids) made it in the pros.
U.S. coach: John Hackworth.
2005Peru
The USA finished first in its group with wins over North Korea (3-2) and Italy (3-1) and a tie with Ivory Coast (1-1) but it fell to the Netherlands (2-0) in thequarterfinals.
Notable players: Current national team players Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez were on theteam along with Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotic, who played for Serbia at the 2010 World Cup. The Farfan brothers, Gabe andMichael went on to have long pro careers. Gabe plays for the NASL Miami FC; Michael is retired.
U.S. coach: JohnHackworth.
Final: Mexico 3 Brazil 0.
2003 Finland
FreddyAdu‘s coming out began with a hat trick in the 6-1 win over South Korea in the opener. But the tournament ended quietly with a 3-0 loss to Brazil in the quarterfinals.
U.S. coach: John Ellinger.
Final: Brazil1 Spain 0.
2001 Trinidad & Tobago
The USA went winless in the final tournament in a group that included eventual champion Franceand runner-up Nigeria.
Notable players: Future national team player Eddie Johnson and former D.C. United star Santino Quaranta were the stars.The squad included future MLS veterans Mike Magee, Chad Marshall, Justin Mapp and Tyson Wahl.
U.S.coach: John Ellinger.
Final: France 3 Nigeria 0
1999 NewZealand
For the only time, the USA reached the final four thanks to a 3-2 win over Mexico in the quarterfinals. The Americans fell to Australia, 7-6 in a shootout in thesemifinals after their game ended 2-2.
Notable players: Landon Donovan won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s top player,and DaMarcus Beasley won the Silver Ball. Other future World Cup players Oguchi Onyewu, Bobby Convey and Kyle Beckerman were on the team that was thefirst that had been in residency in Bradenton, Fla.
Coach: John Ellinger.
Final: Brazil 0 Australia 0 (PKs, 8-7)
1997 Egypt
A first-round exit for the Americans with one win– 4-0 over Austria — in three games.
Notable players: Former New England Revs and current ESPN broadcaster TaylorTwellman, Toronto FC defender Danny Califf.
U.S. coach: Jay Miller.
Final: Brazil 2 Ghana 1.
1995 Ecuador
Three straight losses sent the USA home from the finaltournament in Ecuador after the group stage.
Notable players: Goalkeepers Tim Howard and Nick Rimando.Defender Nick Garcia played more than 300 MLS games, winning MLS Cup in rookie year of 2000.
U.S. coach: GlennMyernick.
Final: Ghana 3 Brazil 2.
1993 Japan
JudahCooks‘ hat trick — the first ever by an American — gave the USA a 5-1 win over Qatar in its final group game to reach the quarterfinals, where it lost, 3-0, to Poland.
U.S. coach: Roy Rees.
Final: Nigeria 2 Ghana 1
1991 Italy
First team to reach knockout stage thanksto wins over host Italy, Argentina and China but it lost in quarterfinals to Qatar.
Notable players: Albertin Montoya,the 2012 U-17 Women’s World Cup coach. Mike Slivinski and Mark Jonas later in the year became the youngest players to represent the USA at the senior level,but neither earned a second cap.
U.S. coach: Roy Rees.
Final:Ghana 1 Spain 0.
1989 Scotland
Beat Brazil in opening game of final tournament in Scotland but did not advance out of its group.
Notable players: World Cup captain Claudio Reyna, UCLA coach Jorge Salcedo, Baba brothers,Nidal and Imad.
Coach: Roy Rees.
Final: Saudi Arabia 2 Scotland 2 (PKs, 5-4)
1987 Canada
Opened with 2-1 win over Ecuador but exitedin the first round with 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast and 4-2 loss to South Korea.
Notable players: World Cup 1998 players ChadDeering and Mike Burns, one-time phenom Steve Snow. Burns, Snow, Erik Imler and Troy Dayak played in 1992 Olympic Games,the year it became a U-23 competition.
U.S. coach: Roy Rees.
Final: USSR 1 Nigeria 1 (PKs, 4-2)
1985 China
Lost to Guinea (1-0) and China (3-1); beat Bolivia(2-1).
Notable players: Former Major League Baseball outfielder Curtis Pride, super agent Lyle Yorks.
U.S. coach: Angus McAlpine.
Final: Nigeria 2 West Germany0.
U.S. U-17 World Cup (Group A) games
Friday, Oct. 6:India-USA (10:30 a.m. ET) FS2, Universo.
Monday, Oct. 9: USA-Ghana (7:30 a.m. ET) FS2, Universo.
Friday, Oct. 12: USA-Colombia (10:30 a.m. ET) FS2,Universo.