U17 World Cup 2011: Canada Opens Against Uruguay

PACHUCA, MEXICO — Canada will kick off its 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign on 19 June with a match against Uruguay (local kick-off 18.00) at the Estadio Hidalgo.

The match will be televised in Canada on CBC Bold (19.00 ET / 16.00 PT), as well as streamed online at cbcsports.ca. In-match Twitter updates will be provided at CanadaSoccerEN and online video coverage of the tournament can be found at CanadaSoccerTV.

Head Coach Sean Fleming has been preparing the young Canadian team at a training camp in Pachuca and the team is looking forward to beginning the competition on Sunday.

“In tournament play you always want to start with a good result,” said Fleming. “But it’s going to be difficult with the players getting used to the stadium and the atmosphere.”

Canada had its first chance to train at the Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca on Friday. The 30,000-seat venue, which is considered to be one of the best facilities in Mexico, will host all three of Canada’s Group C matches.

The team’s group opponents are Uruguay, England and Rwanda. The top two finishers will advance to knockout play in the Round of 16.

“It’s a difficult group,” Fleming stated. “We believe strongly that each game will provide its challenges which we hope to meet.”

Canada is making its first appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup since it finished 16th at the 1995 tournament in Ecuador. This will be the country’s fifth appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Sean Fleming’s side qualified for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup by finishing as the runner-up at the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Jamaica earlier this year.

Canada will take on England in its second match of the group stage on 22 June (18.00 local kick-off).