Despite loss to Chile, Canada advances to knockout round at FIFA U17 World Cup for 1st time

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Nov 11, 2025 11:44 AM EST | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Despite a 2-1 loss to Chile in the Group K finale Tuesday, Canada moved into the knockout round at the FIFA under-17 World Cup for the first time in nine trips to the tournament.

The young Canadians had a chance to pull even in stoppage time, but forward Van Parker skied a penalty kick in the 99th minute.

Tournament debutant Uganda upset France 1-0 in the other Group K match, leaving all four teams on four points with 1-1-1 records. But Canada still finished second behind the French to qualify for the Round of 32 at the expanded 48-team tournament, up from 24 teams in 2023 in Indonesia. Uganda finished third and Chile fourth.

The top two teams in each group plus the eight best third-placed sides qualify for the Round of 32.

Canada had never won a game in its eight previous tournament appearances, recording a dismal 0-20-4 record. But it has been a different story this year.

Canada rallied with two late goals, with the winner coming on a 98th-minute penalty, for a 2-1 win over Uganda before playing France to a scoreless draw.

Chile lost 2-0 to France before settling for a 1-1 draw with Uganda after conceding a 93rd-minute goal.

The tournament runs through Nov. 27 across eight pitches at the Aspire Zone complex in Doha, Qatar. The final will be staged at Khalifa International Stadium, which is also on the Aspire Zone site.

York United attacker Shola Jimoh opened the scoring for Canada in the 32nd minute. But Zidane Yanez and Matias Orellana replied for Chile, in the 55th and 66th minutes, respectively.

Late-match drama

There was plenty of late drama.

Francisco Daza saved a Canadian goal in the 76th minute, with a goal-line clearance from Aidan Evans after goalkeeper Vicente Villegas failed to hang onto a cross.

Chile finished the game with 10 men after Yanez was sent off in the 84th minute following video review of a tangle between the Chilean attacker and Sahil Deo with Yanez hitting out with his boot as they went down. Both players were initially yellow-carded before Yanez's punishment was upgraded to red.

Put behind the Canadian defence, Amaro Perez had a good chance to make it 3-1 for Chile in stoppage time but sent his shot wide. A video review in stoppage time resulted in the penalty after Parker went down in the Chile penalty box, thanks to a shove in the back by Alonso Olguin.

Canada went into the match tied on points with France but in second place in the group by one goal on goal difference.

Canada went ahead when Jimoh, taking a nice feed from Kevin Khan, beat Villegas with a low shot into the corner of the goal.

Chile tied it up in the 55th minute when Canada failed to deal with a free kick. Following an initial clearance, the ball went back into the penalty box, where Martin Jimenez sent it across goal for a sliding Yanez to knock home.

Yanez was 15 when he signed a homegrown contract with New York City FC in December 2023.

Orellana put Chile ahead in the 66th minute. Left unmarked, his initial shot hit Deo, but the ball bounced straight back to Orellana who made no mistake with his second attempt.

Canadian coach Mike Vitulano made just one change to his starting lineup, with Parker, named to the 2025 MLS Next all-star team as a member of Real Salt Lake's under-16 team, replacing the suspended Marius Aiyenero.

The Chile lineup included midfielder Antonio Riquelme, also part of the Real Salt Lake academy.

Greek referee Vassilios Fotias went to the pitchside monitor to review a tackle that earned Canada's Khan a yellow card in the 54th minute but opted for no further punishment.

The tournament's video support system allows coaches two requests per game for a video review. If the review by the referee results in the original decision being changed, the team retains its request.

Ahead of the tournament, Aiyenero, Antone Bossenberry, and Sasha Cernic were added to the roster with Andre Ali-Gayapersad, Owen Graham-Roache and Stefan Kapor withdrawing through injury.

The Canadians booked their ticket to the World Cup in February, topping their five-team qualifying group — featuring host Bermuda, Anguilla, Curacao and Turks and Caicos — with a perfect 4-0-0 record. They outscored their opposition 28-2, with both goals conceded coming from the penalty spot.

Chile qualified by finishing fourth at the South American U-17 Championship in April, losing 3-0 to Venezuela in the third-place game after falling 1-0 to eventual champion Brazil in the semifinals.

The Chileans, appearing at their sixth FIFA U-17 World Cup, finished third in 1993.