The Canadian men’s U-17 national team qualified for a ninth FIFA U-17 World Cup on Sunday night in Bermuda. Canada defeated Bermuda 7-1 to finish atop Group A in 2025 Concacaf U-17 World Cup qualifying. With the U-17 World Cup being expanded to 48 teams for the first time in 2025, teams were split into eight groups, with the team that finished top of each group earning a spot at the 2025 U-17 World Cup tournament. Canada’s dominant run through the group also included a 6-0 victory over Turks and Caicos, an 8-0 win over Anguilla, and a 7-1 defeat of Curaçao. The squad featured 16-year-old York United standout Shola Jimoh, who scored against both Turks and Caicos and Curaçao. He now has three goals for his country at youth level, scoring in a 2-1 friendly victory over Mexico in November. Jimoh was also part of a senior national team training camp in October.
Several Canadian players scored multiple goals during the competition, with Aidan Evans of Fulham U-18s leading the way with seven. LAFC 2’s Marius Aiyenaro and Feyenoord U-17’s Kevin Khan finished each had five. The 2025 U-17 World Cup in Qatar kicks off on Nov. 5, and runs until the final on Nov. 27. An official draw will be hosted later this year to determine Canada’s opponents. In their eight previous appearances at the U-17 FIFA World Cup Canada are still without a victory, with a record of four draws and 20 losses. Two Canadian Premier League players represented Canada at the last FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2023: Forge’s Kevaughn Tavernier and Vancouver FC’s TJ Tahid. Recently signed Valour FC striker Erik Pop was also part of that team.