The Canadian U-17 national team fell 3-2 in a close battle against their U.S. counterparts in the opening match for both nations in Group H of the 2019 Concacaf Under-17 Championship in Bradenton, Florida.
Four nations will qualify from the tournament to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be played in Brazil later this year. The top three teams from the group will advance to the knockout stage Round of 16. The other two Group H teams, Guatemala and Barbados, opened group play with a 1-1.
Four Whitecaps FC players started the match for Canada: centre backs Nathan Demian and Gianfranco Facchineri, fullback Deylen Vellios, and midfielder Damiano Pecile.