Brazil's under-17 national team announced their 21-player squad for the World Cup in Qatar on Thursday. The selection includes eight players from Rio de Janeiro clubs, with Flamengo contributing three members.
Head coach Carlos Eduardo Patetuci outlined the selection process. "Our main criterion was the athletes' performance, both at their clubs throughout the year in the competitions they played, and during the periods they were with the Brazilian national team, during training and friendlies," he said. The team has been drawn in Group I alongside Ireland, Tanzania, and Costa Rica, with their opening match scheduled for November 21 against the Irish.
In addition to the three Flamengo players, the squad features one from Botafogo, two from Fluminense, and two from Vasco da Gama. The remaining call-ups come from nine other Brazilian clubs: Athletico-PR (three), Atlético-MG (two), Palmeiras (two), Cruzeiro, Bahia, Grêmio, Corinthians (two), and Santos. The team will gather on November 3 at the Granja Comary training centre in Teresópolis before departing for Qatar on November 14.
Patetuci emphasised the tournament's demands. "The World Cup is a short, high-demand competition, and we need to arrive with athletes prepared to take advantage of this opportunity," the technical director stated. The senior national team's preparations continue concurrently, with their next fixture an away match against Japan on November 14. The senior side approaches that game in positive form, with two wins and a draw in their last three outings, including a 4-0 victory over India earlier this month. Forward Vinícius Júnior is the top scorer this season with four goals in five appearances, a benchmark for the younger squad.
The immediate focus for the under-17s is their assembly in Teresópolis, aiming to make the most of the short World Cup window to challenge for the trophy.
More detail at O Globo Esportes
