The Group B preliminary round of the U-17 FIFA World Cup is being played at Manahan Stadium in Solo City. Four countries, each having qualified for the U-17 World Cup several times, are ready to vie for a spot in the Round of 16.

The U-17 FIFA World Cup 2023 is set to take place this week in Indonesia, with matches starting on 10 November 2023, and the final scheduled at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java, on 2 December 2023. Indonesia has prepared four stadiums for the matches: Si Jalak Harupat in Bandung, Jakarta International Stadium in Jakarta, Manahan in Solo, and Gelora Bung Tomo in Surabaya.

A total of 24 countries have qualified for the final round of this special U-17 football tournament. This marks the 19th edition of the U-17 FIFA World Cup, with the inaugural event held in China in 1985. Indonesia is the sixth Asian country to host the U-17 World Cup after China (1985), Japan (1993), South Korea (2007), the United Arab Emirates (2013), and India (2017).

The 24 countries are divided into six groups (A-F). Group B matches are being held at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java. This group includes Spain, Canada, Mali, and Uzbekistan. The opening match of the group stage will feature Mali against Uzbekistan on Friday, 10 November 2023, at 4:00 PM local time. The final group stage match will take place on Thursday, 16 November 2023, between Mali and Canada.

Spain stands out as the strongest team in this group, boasting young players who have already joined several top La Liga clubs. They have participated in the U-17 FIFA World Cup 10 times, reaching the final four times but have yet to secure a championship. La Furia Roja, the nickname for the team from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) zone, also includes Marc Guiu.

Guiu, a wonder kid, made a successful debut with the senior Barcelona team in La Liga on 23 October 2023. He played a crucial role in saving Barcelona, scoring the only goal in a match against Atletico Madrid. The 17-year-old wonderkid has already left an indelible mark on his team.

Mali, representing the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is another notable team in Group B. They were runners-up in the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2015 held in Chile. Les Aigles, as they are called, are determined to win the championship in Indonesia. Coach Soumaila Coulibaly stated, "We come to Indonesia to achieve the highest goal. We must repay the support and trust of the people of Mali with a championship," as quoted from the official website of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

Canada, having participated in the U-17 FIFA World Cup eight times, aims to improve its performance in the 19th edition in Indonesia by reaching the Round of 16. The team, known as Les Rouges, is managed by Raphael Maitimo, an individual of Indonesian and Minangkabau descent, who once played for the Garuda national team in 2014.

However, Spain, Mali, and Canada cannot underestimate the sole representative of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Group B, Uzbekistan. The White Wolves, as Uzbekistan is known, have qualified for the U-17 FIFA World Cup three times, with their best achievement being a quarterfinal appearance in the 2011 tournament held in Mexico.

During that edition, Uzbekistan made its debut in the U-17 FIFA World Cup, and the team coached by Jamoliddin Rakhmatullaev aims to relive the sweet memories from 12 years ago.

Full Squad List

Here is the complete list of 21 players from each country participating in Group B.

Spain

Confederation: UEFA

Nickname: La Furia Roja

Participation: 10 times

Best Achievement: Finalist (1991, 2003, 2007, 2017)

Coach: Hernan Perez

Goalkeepers: Raul Jimenez, Fran Albiol, M. Gonzalez

Defenders: Oscar Mesa, Daniel Munoz, Hector Fort, Andres Cuenca, Izan Merini, Pau Cubarsi, Jon Martin

Midfielders: Quim Junyent, Pau Prim, R. Martin, Marc Bernal, J. Hernandez

Forwards: P. Huestamendia, Pablo Lopez, Marc Guiu, Daniel Yanez, Paulo Iago

Canada

Confederation: CONCACAF

Nickname: Les Rouges

Participation: 7 times

Best Achievement: Group stage

Coach: Andrew Olivieri

Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Abraham, Dominic Kantowicz, Alexander O'Brien

Defenders: Victor Fung, Etienne Godin, Chimere Omeze, Lazar Stefanovic, Jeevan Badwal, Lino Aklil, Gael de Montigny, Aidan Fong, The Rigopoulos.

Midfielders: Alessandro Biello, Richard Chukwu, Philip Igbinobaro, Tyler Londono, Tayrck Tahid.

Forwards: Antoni Klukowski, Lucas Ozimec, Erik Pop, Kevaughn Tavernier.

Mali

Confederation: CAF

Nickname: Les Aigles

Participation: 5 times

Best Achievement: Finalist (2015)

Coach: Soumaila Coulibaly

Goalkeepers: Bourame Kone, Diaguine Sidibe, Seriba Doumbia

Defenders: Moussa Traore, Issa Traore, Goussou Kone, Souleymane Sanogo, Hamidou Makalou, Sekou Kone, Mahamoud Barry.

Midfielders: Modibo Sissoko, Baye Coulibaly, Moussa Diop, Ousmane Theiro, Ange Martial Tia, Ibrahim Kanate, Ibrahim Diarra.

Forwards: Slif Leintu, Badra Traore, Mahamdou Doumbia, Ousmane Diarra.

Uzbekistan

Confederation: AFC

Nickname: White Wolves

Participation: 3 times

Best Achievement: Quarterfinals (2011)

Coach: Jamoliddin Rakhmatullaev

Goalkeepers: Jakhongir Buriev, Jakhongir Mamatkulov, Mukhammadyusuf Sobirov

Defenders: Bekhruz Karimov, Ozodbek Uktamov, Bekhruz Shukurullaev, Bekhruz Jumatov, Ozodbek Ergashev, Sherzod Abdulboriyev, Dilshod Abdullaev.

Midfielders: Aminbekk Yokubov, Yakhyo Urinboev, Azizbkek Tulkunbekov, Lazizbek Mirzaev, Mukhammedali Reimov, Ollabergan Karimov, Jasur Khikmatullaev.

Forwards: Amirbek Saidov, Abdulkhamid Turgunboev, Kuvonch Abraev, Shodiyor Shodiboev.

Match Schedule

10 November 2023

Manahan, 4:00 PM Mali vs Uzbekistan

Manahan, 7:00 PM Spain vs Canada

13 November 2023

Manahan, 4:00 PM Spain vs Mali

Manahan, 7:00 PM Uzbekistan vs Canada

16 November 2023

Manahan, 4:00 PM Uzbekistan vs Spain

Gelora Bung Tomo, 4:00 PM Canada vs Mali

Writer: Anton Setiawan
Editor: Elvira Inda Sari/Wilda Stiana
Translator: Irvina Falah