The Cayman Islands Men’s Under-17 National Team is gearing up for a significant milestone in their footballing journey as they prepare to launch their 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifying campaign this February.
The young Caymanian squad kicks off their campaign in Group G of the CONCACAF Under-17 Qualifiers, where they will face Aruba, Canada and Jamaica. This opening phase is the first step in their quest to secure a spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar this November.
All three of Cayman’s group matches are scheduled to take place at the FCRF Federation Field in San Rafael de Alajuela, Costa Rica.
For Cayman, the action kicks off on Friday, 6 Feb. where they will face Canada at 3pm followed by Jamaica on Sunday, 8 Feb. at 12pm.
The group stage concludes for the Cayman side on Wednesday, 11 Feb. when they face Aruba in another midday kickoff.
With 34 CONCACAF member associations divided into eight groups, the stakes are remarkably high, as only the eight group winners will secure a direct ticket to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Between 3-12 Feb., a total of 34 member associations from CONCACAF will compete across eight groups.
Through a round-robin schedule where every team plays one another once, the field will be narrowed down until only the group leaders remain. These eight winners will then officially progress to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
In a Cayman Islands Football Association press release, head coach Ian Lindo, emphasised the importance of this tournament for both the individual players and the broader youth development pathway in the Cayman Islands.
“We’re heading into a very competitive group, but the focus is on preparation, discipline and giving a good account of ourselves against strong opposition. These matches are a key part of the players’ growth, and we’re looking forward to the challenge of competing on the Concacaf stage and representing the Cayman Islands with pride,” he said.
The 20-man roster selected to represent the islands includes Ajani Osborne, Charles Morrison, Cooper Nelson, Derek Sanchez, Dylan – Powell Bonilla, Isaiah McKain, Izaiah Willis, Jairon McCoy, Jhaiyre Willis, Jon-Marc Thomas, Josiah Campbell, Kymani Parsons, Levi Jack, Nacir Smith, Quinn Small, Ra ‘Jon Boothe, Thomas Rees, Wilfred Galeano Sevilla, William Kirksey, and Zephon Ebanks.
