For Conmebol, the South American U-17 Championship is “one of the best showcases for the future generation of players currently in this category” and also “one of the most important youth development tournaments on the continent.” This is how the umbrella football body in the region mentions it on its official website ahead of the opening this Thursday.

Aimar Govea, Kendry Páez, Allen Obando and Jhon Acurio, figures from Ecuador to follow in the South American U-17

Ecuador is the venue of the competition, and as the host, the Tricolor will be looking for its fourth World Cup qualification ticket, which it achieved in the 2011, 2015 and 2019 editions. It also played in the FIFA World Cup, in sub-division 17 in 1995 ., but then as the host country.

Ecuador is already waiting for the start of the South American U-17 in Guayaquil

For many, the national team is part of the so-called group of death, along with two classic powers like Argentina and Uruguay and a powerful soccer nation in smaller categories like Colombia.

Ecuador is ‘ready and without pressure’ to host the South American U-17

With Diego Martínez as coach and a base dominated by players from the youth school Independiente del Valle (ten) and Liga de Quito (six), La Tri has the first mission: ​​one of the three tickets in the group going to the hexagonal final. They will then look to be one of the four to enter the 2023 World Cup.

This is some basic information from the Conmebol tournament, useful for following the tournament that will be held in Guayaquil and Quito.

– The South American Championship in the U17 category will start this Thursday (March 30) and will end on April 23.

– The seat of the first phase will be Guayaquil, at the Cristian Benítez and George Capwel stadiums. While the final round will be held in Quito, at the Atahualpa and Rodrigo Paz Delgado Olympic Stadium.

-The South American U17 match will be played in two phases: the preliminary phase (group) and the final (hexagonal, with the same game system all against all). All rounds will be played in one round of matches.

– The preliminary phase will be played by ten teams, divided into two groups of five teams each, and will be held at the Christian Benítez and George Capwell stadiums, both in Guayaquil.

-The teams that take the first three places in each group will qualify for the final hexagonal. They will meet for the title at the Olímpico Atahualpa and Rodrigo Paz Delgado stadiums, both in Quito.

– In addition, the national teams that occupy the first four places in the final hexagonal table will qualify for the U-17 World Cup that will be held this year.

– Group A consists of Ecuador, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Colombia. In sector B are Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela.

-Colombia-Uruguay (4:30 p.m.) and Ecuador vs. Brazil (7:00 p.m.) open the South American Saturday 17th with the first match taking place this Thursday. (D)