To take on the world, you have to be up to the challenge of your own region.
More than 20 youngsters from MLS academy programs will take the field starting Friday at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, where 12 national teams will vie for four spots at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, to be held in Chile from Oct. 17-Nov. 8.
The US U-17s, stuck in the shadow of the 2013 squad that failed to qualify for the U-17 World Cup for the first time in US history, open Group A play against Cuba on Friday (6 pm ET, FOX Sports 2).
Canada, whose roster is littered with players from the academies of their three MLS teams, kick off in Group B against Haiti on Saturday.
The tournament includes five Caribbean teams, most of whom will be underdogs against Canada, Mexico and the US and Central American teams Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama.
HISTORY AND FORMAT
As in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship held earlier this year, each team will play at least five matches, with the top finisher from each six-team group qualifying directly to the World Cup. The second- and third-place teams from each group will then compete in playoff games to determine the final two CONCACAF representatives.
Group A includes the US, hosts Honduras (who eliminated the US in 2013), Cuba, Guatemala, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. Group B features Canada, Costa Rica, Haiti, Mexico, Panama and St. Lucia.
Only players born in or after 1998 are eligible. Games will be played at Estadio Francisco Morazán and Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, both in San Pedro Sula, with the playoff games and the tournament final to be held on March 15.
Mexico are the tournament's defending champions and have reached the final of the last two FIFA U-17 World Cups, winning in 2011 and falling just short in 2013. Panama, Canada and Honduras also qualified in 2013.
FAVORITES
Mexico, Mexico, Mexico.
While it may not be fair to pressure teenagers based on what age groups before them have done, Mexico have established a track record of excelling in youth competition, and they will be expected to qualify easily.
The US, Canada and hosts Honduras are probably next in line, although Panama dominated their qualifying games and have been rapidly developing at all levels in recent years.
Jamaica were the last Caribbean nation to qualify, reaching the World Cup in 2011, while Haiti qualified in 2007.
MLS PLAYERS IN ACTION
FC Dallas winger
Alejandro Zendejas
is the only current MLS player eligible for the tournament, and he started 10 games last year for the U-17s, scoring three goals and three assists. Unattached forward Haji Wright and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Christian Pulisic combined to score 35 goals, more than half of the US total of 61, last year and are expected to lead the offense.
Several MLS academy players will play pivotal roles, including the New York Red Bulls' defensive duo of Matthew Olosunde and Tyler Adams and LA Galaxy defender Hugo Arellano, with Real Salt Lake's Tanner Dieterich joining them at the back.
Orlando City are the only other MLS club to be represented on the US squad in forward Pierre da Silva, who led the team with nine assists in 2014.
Canada rely almost exclusively on players from MLS academies, drawing 15 of their 20 players from either Toronto FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Toronto FC contributed nine players, including 2014 Generation adidas Cup participant Malik Johnson, while six players come from the Whitecaps' residency program. Daniel Sagno, Duwayne Ewart and Terran Campbell have combined for 35 Vancouver goals in USSDA play this year, although Ewart is now listed as unattached and has not played for Vancouver in 2015.
Four players from MLS academy programs will compete for other nations at the tournament. Jamaica's roster includes Orlando City's Nathaniel Adamolekun (12 goals in 15 USSDA games) and the New York Red Bulls' Zaire Bartley. Panama called up Houston Dynamo midfielder Giandemir Jaen, while Trinidad & Tobago called on Philadelphia Union forward Jerren Nixon.
Additionally, Chivas USA academy midfielder Ivan Gutierrez, goalkeeper Abraham Romero of the LA Galaxy academy (and a former member of the USA's Bradenton Residency program), and former San Jose Earthquakes prospect Edwin Lara (now with Pachuca) will play for the Mexico U-17s.
TV LISTINGS
The 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship will be broadcast on the FOX network and Univision Deportes. All US matches will air on FOX Sports 2 or on FoxSports2Go.
US schedule:
Friday, Feb. 27
6pm ET US vs. Cuba (FOX Sports 2, Univision Deportes)
Monday, March 2
6pm ET US vs. Trinidad & Tobago (FOX Sports 2, Univision Deportes)
Thursday, March 5
6pm ET US vs. Guatemala (FOX Sports 2, Univision Deportes)
Sunday, March 8
10pm ET, Honduras vs. US (FOX Soccer Plus, Univision Deportes)
Wednesday, March 11
7pm ET, US vs. Jamaica (FOX Sports 2, Univision Deportes)
