The draw for the 2015 U-17 World Cup was held Thursday evening in Santiago, Chile, the host nation for this year’s prestigious youth tournament.
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When the tournament kicks off on Oct. 17 (final scheduled for Nov. 8), the Americans will find themselves in yet another “group of death” — one of them, at least — where they’ll face the host nation Chile, defending U-17 World Cup champions Nigeria and perennial youth powerhouse Croatia in Group A.
Meanwhile, 2013 runners-up and the US’s bitter CONCACAF rivals, Mexico, have been handed an equally nightmarish Group C, which features European and South America powers Germany and Argentina, and Australia.
Full 2015 U-17 World Cup draw results:
Group A: Chile (hosts), Croatia, Nigeria, USA
Group B: England, Guinea, Brazil, South Korea
Group C: Australia, Germany, Mexico, Argentina
Group D: Belgium, Mali, Honduras, Ecuador
Group E: South Africa, Costa Rica, North Korea, Russia
Group F: New Zealand, France, Syria, Paraguay
The top two sides from each four-team group will advance to the round of 16, alongside the four third-place finishers with the most points won during the group stage.