By the Numbers: A FIFA U-17 World Cup Draw History

Aug. 6, 2009

The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team is the only team that has qualified for every FIFA U-17 World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1985, with the 2009 tournament marking the 13^th edition of the biennial event. On Friday (Aug. 7), the draw for the 2009 tournament will determine the fates of host Nigeria and 23 nations who qualified for the event, which will take place from Oct. 24-Nov. 15.

Only Brazil comes close to the USA’s record 13-straight tournaments, having only missed one U-17 event in its history and earning a berth to Nigeria in ’09, looking for its fourth U-17 title. The hosts will be looking to defend its 2007 title and raise the trophy for the fourth time. Mexico is the only other past champion who will be in Nigeria, having won the event in 2005.

The six FIFA confederations will be represented by the following countries:

AFC (4) – Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, United Arab Emirates
CAF (4) – Algeria, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Malawi
CONCACAF (4) – Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, USA
CONMEBOL (4) – Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay
OFC (1) – New Zealand
UEFA (6) – Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey
Host – Nigeria

As the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team learns its group opponents on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET, ussoccer.com looks back on the 12 previous draws. Stay tuned to ussoccer.com on Friday afternoon for a full report on the draw results from Abuja, Nigeria and reaction from head coach Wilmer Cabrera and players.

FIFA U-17 World Cups
U.S. Group Placement and Finish

Year	Group	Teams (in order U.S. played)	U.S. Group Finish	U.S. Overall Finish
2007	E	Tajikistan, Tunisia, Belgium	2^nd	16^th
2005	C	Korea Republic, Italy, Cote d’Ivoire	1st	5^th
2003	D	Korea DPR, Sierra Leone, Spain	2^nd	5^th
2001	A	Japan, France, Nigeria	4^th	15^th
1999	A	New Zealand, Poland, Uruguay	2^nd	4^th
1997	C	Oman, Brazil, Austria	3^rd	11^th
1995	A	Ecuador, Japan, Ghana	4^th	15^th
1993	C	Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Qatar	2nd	7^th
1991	A	Italy, Argentina, China PR	1^st	5^th
1989	B	Brazil, Germany DR, Australia	3^rd	10^th
1987	B	Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Korea Republic	3^rd	14^th
1985	A	Guinea, Bolivia, China PR	3^rd	12^th

BY THE NUMBERS
2        Times the US has won its respective group, in 2005 and 1991
3        Consecutive times that the Americans have advanced out of the group stage
3        Tournaments that the U.S. has played the official first match of the tournament against the host country
4        Straight times that U.S. group has been made up of a team from Asia, Europe and Africa, dating back to 2001
4        Events that saw the US win at least two group games
4        Straight times that the United States has opened against a team from Asia
4^th      Highest finish for the U.S. the U-17 WC (1999)
4.0     Average points earned by U.S. teams in the group phase
5        Number of times that the Americans have finished in the top 10 in the tournament standings
6        Times the US has advanced out of the group phase
6        Number of times that the United States has won its opening game, and the number of times it has lost. The team has never tied an opener
13      FIFA events that the U.S. U-17 MNT has participated in, including the 2009 edition
15      Group games won by the U.S. in 12 previous tournaments