Football Association of Ireland | REPORT | U17 World Cup | Ireland top group and set-up Canada clash

REPORT | U17 World Cup | Ireland top group and set-up Canada clash

Nov 11 2025

Ireland Men’s Under-17s secured a top place finish in Group J to set-up a Round of 32 against Canada.

The 0-0 draw with Paraguay saw Ireland finish with seven points and will now take on Canada who came second in Group K.

Paraguay required a win or a draw to see them advance to the knockout stages too and it was the South Americans who had a great chance with Mauricio De Carvalho in the 25^th minute when his snap shot just went wide.

Ireland’s best chance of the first half came through Jaden Umeh. The captain Rory Finneran drove forward and played in the Benfica striker and his attempt was matched by Matias Fernandez before it headed from under the cross bar for corner.

In the second half the game remained very tight. Victor Ozhianvuna had two attempts on the Paraguay goal. First his drive at goal needed a deflection to keep it away from Fernandez’s goal then in the 83^rd minute his curling attempt just went wide of the goal.

Deep into injury time Umeh had another chance this time he was forced wide and he couldn’t find the target with his effort as the game finished all square.

Ireland: A. Noonan, Butler, Cullen (Ogbonna, 62’), Leonard, Sherlock (McDonagh, 46’), Ozhianvuna, Finneran (C), McDonnell, McAteer (Martos, 62’), Umeh, Noonan (McMahon-Brown, 62).

Paraguay: Fernandez, Aranda, Cristaldo, Coronel, Acosta (Y. Ruiz, 90’), Franco (Ruiz, 83’), Campss (Ojeda, 46’), Sanabria, Vera, Villalbla (Freyres, 72’), De Carvalho (Buhring, 46’).

Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: George Moloney (Southampton), Alex Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Corey Cummins-Sheridan (Finn Harps).

Defenders: Ryan Butler (Wexford), Josh Cullen (Finn Harps), Vinnie Leonard (Dundalk), Ade Solanke (FC Lorient), Oisin McDonagh (Venezia), Finn Sherlock (Hoffenheim), Sean Spaight (Dundalk).

Midfielders: Rory Finneran (Newcastle United), Ramon Martos (UD Almeria), Grady McDonnell (Club Brugge), Kian McMahon-Brown (Burnley), Goodness Ogbonna (UCD), Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers).

Forwards: Max Kovalevskis (Shamrock Rovers), Brody Lee (Cork City), Gavin McAteer (Finn Harps), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Jaden Umeh (SL Benfica).

Republic of Ireland FIFA Under-17 World Cup Results/ Fixtures/Schedule