Academy

Canada call up U-17 training camp roster full of MLS academy talent

Kamron Habibullah - Canada Under-17s - Close up

Canada Soccer has revealed a roster for the U-17 national team for its final tune-up training camp ahead of the 2019 U-17 World Cup in Brazil later this month.


Of the 23 players selected for the camp, 21 are currently part of MLS club academies.


From the Montreal Impact academy there have been seven players called up: goalkeeper Benjamin Collins, defenders Maxime Bourgeois and Keesean Ferdinand, midfielders Matt Catavolo and Tomas Giraldo, and attackers Mouhamadou Kane and Sean Rea.


From Toronto FC's academy, eight players were selected: goalkeeper Eleias Himaras, defenders Kobe Franklin and Rohan Goulbourne, midfielders Julian Altobelli, Deandre Kerr and Ralph Priso-Mbongue, and attacker Jayden Nelson.


Vancouver Whitecaps FC's academy features six players called up: defenders Nathan Demian, Gianfranco Facchineri, and Deylen Vellios, midfielders Emiliano Brienza and Damiano Pecile, and attacker Kamron Habibullah (pictured above).


The training camp will be the final preparation before the U-17 World Cup, which will kick off for Canada on Oct. 26 against tournament host Brazil, before playing Angola and New Zealand in group play. Canada have never gotten out of the group stage in their history in U-17 World Cup play. The final roster is not confirmed for the World Cup, but the squad will likely comprise most, if not all of the players called up to the camp.