Nicaragua heads up difficult Group A in CU17 Qualifying

BRADENTON, Florida – 2019 Concacaf Under-17 Championship Qualifying kicks off this Saturday at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida with five teams from Group A hoping to earn a spot in the CU17 this May.

Heading up the group is a Nicaragua side that came achingly close to qualifying two years ago for the 2017 Concacaf Under-17 Championship.

Only goal difference prevented the Pinoleros from advancing out of the Central American Zone against El Salvador and Honduras.

With a first-place finish in the group, Nicaragua would qualify for its second ever CU17, the first coming 25 years ago in 1994.

Joining Nicaragua in the group is another team that has one CU17 under its belt, the Cayman Islands. That appearance came in 1992, so a new generation of players will be looking to make history.

Yet it would be unwise for the aforementioned two teams to discount the challenges sure to be summoned by Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Despite not reaching the CU17 in 2017, Grenada showed plenty of pluck in scoring three goals in the group stage, while Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and U.S. Virgin Islands will each be looking to prove they belong on one of Concacaf’s biggest stages.

• NCA has only appeared in one CU17. Best finish was group stage of El Salvador 1994. Finished in 12th place.
• NCA record at CU17: 0W-0D-3L, 3GF-15GC. 0-10 vs. Canada, 2-3 vs. El Salvador and 1-2 vs. Jamaica.
• Did not play qualifying in 1983, 85, 87, 88, 91, 92, 96 and 99. Played qualifiers in 2001 and 2017 but did not qualify.
• Best international results were 1-1 draw vs. Guatemala, 1-1 vs. El Salvador in U-17 qualifying for Honduras 2006.
• Worst result was 13-0 vs. Guatemala in U1-7 Qualifying for MEX 2009.
• Has never qualified for a U17 World Cup.

• GRN has never appeared in a CU17.
• Did not play in qualifying for 1983, 85, 87, 88, 91, 92, 96, 09 and 13. Participated in Qualifying for 1999, 01, 03, 05, 07, 11, 15 and 17 but did not qualify.
• Best international result was 11-0 win vs. Anguilla in U-17 Qualifying for Honduras 2001.
• Worst result was 6-0 loss vs. Barbados in U17 Qualifying for JAM 2011.
• Has never appeared in an Under-17 World Cup.

• VIN has never appeared in a CU17.
• Did not take part in Qualifying in 1983, 85, 87, 88, 91, 92, 96, 13 and 15. Took part in Qualifying from 1999 to 2011 and in 2017 but did not qualify.
• Best international result was 11-0 win over British Virgin Islands in U17 Qualifying for HON 2001.
• Worst international result was 10-0 loss vs. Cuba in 2008 Youth Cup played in Trinidad and Tobago.
• Has never qualified for an Under-17 World Cup.
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• CAY played in just one CU17. Played in GS of Cuba 1992 and finished 11th.
• CAY record in CU17: 0W-0D-3L. 0GF-18GC. Has never won nor scored a goal in CU17.
• Was in Group A of First Round at Cuba 1992. Faced Canada, Panama and Cuba. Lost all matches 6-0.
• Did not take part in Qualifying in 1983, 85, 87, 88, 91, 96, 99, 05, 11 and 13. Took part in Qualifying in 2001, 03, 07, 09, 15 and 17 but did not qualify.
• Best international result was 6-0 win at USVI in U17 Qualifying for USA HON 2001.
• Worst international result was 1-9 loss to Dominican Republic in U17 Qualifying for CAN GUA 2003.
• Has never played in a U17 World Cup.

• VIR has never appeared in CU17.
• Did not take part in Qualifying in 1983, 85, 87, 88, 91, 92, 96, 99 and 11. Appeared in Qualifying in 2001, 03, 05, 07, 09, 13, 15 and 17 but did not qualify.
• Best international result was 2-1 win vs. Antigua and Barbuda in U17 Qualifying for HON JAM 2007.
• Worst international result was 19-0 loss vs. Jamaica in U17 Qualifying for HON 2015.
• Has never played in a U17 World Cup.