Elijah Roche scored in the 88th minute and Marius Aiyenero converted a penalty in stoppage time as Canada pulled off a Houdini-like 2-1 win over Uganda on Wednesday for its first-ever victory in nine trips to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
James Bogere’s 25th-minute goal had looked to give Uganda something to celebrate in its first-ever appearance at a FIFA tournament. But Roche, who minutes earlier had made a goal-saving tackle at the other end, rose high to head home Aghilas Sadek’s corner to pull Canada even in the dying minutes in Doha, Qatar.
Then, after video review, Uganda’s John Asiimwe was judged to have taken Aiyenero down in the penalty box. The substitute, who plays his club football for Los Angeles FC 2, beat Uganda ‘keeper Gilbert Mazige with the spot kick for the winner in the 98th minute.
The Canadian men improved to 1-20-4 at the under-17 tournament. Canada, which hosted the event in 1987, has been outscored 71-13 in those 25 games (with one of its goals an Argentine own goal).
“Tonight is a proud moment for our program,” said Canada head coach Mike Vitulano. “We wanted to set a new benchmark for the generations to come and did just that.
“The boys showed incredible character to come from behind, fight their way back and find a way to win late. It’s a testament to their belief and togetherness. We’ll enjoy this moment, but we’re an ambitious group and our focus quickly shifts to preparing for the next match.”
The Canadians continue Group K play against France on Saturday before facing Chile next Tuesday. France blanked Chile 2-0- on Wednesday.
France won the U-17 title in 2001, was runner-up last time out in 2023 and finished third in 2019. Chile finished third in 1993.
Canada had plenty of the ball Wednesday but lacked teeth up front while Uganda was ever dangerous on the counterattack. And when Canada did put a shot on target, Mazige was up to the challenge until Roche, a defender with the Toronto FC reserve side, came to the rescue.
Uganda, which outshot Canada 13-19 (6-6 in shots on target), tired as the clock wound down and Canada took advantage.
The expanded 48-team, 104-game tournament runs through Nov. 27 across eight pitches at the Aspire Zone complex. The final will be staged at Khalifa International Stadium, which is also on the Aspire Zone site.
The other tournament debutantes are El Salvador, Fiji, Ireland and Zambia.
While Canada had more of the ball with 58 per cent possession in the first half, Uganda had the better chances.
Uganda had been threatening on the counterattack and Bogere made one count in the first half, eluding Roche before calmly slotting the ball just inside the post past the outstretched leg of Canadian goalkeeper Jonathan Ransom. Brian Jjara set up the play with an accurate through ball.
Bogere had a chance to double the lead in the 83rd minute but was denied by a last-ditch challenge from Roche.
Eight of the Canadian starting 11 are working their way through the ranks at MLS clubs, three with Toronto FC and one each from CF Montreal and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Two are in the youth system of English clubs (Leicester City and Fulham) and one from the Netherlands (Feyenoord).
All of the Uganda starters are with domestic clubs.
Uganda looked to have gone ahead in the seventh minute on a rapid-fire counterattack when Bogere’s shot was deflected by Ransom into the path of Elvis Torach, who headed the ball home.
But Torach was ruled offside, nullifying the goal.
Bogere, after a storming run by captain Richard Okello, came close in the 21st minute but a diving Ransom got a hand to his shot, pushing it off the goalpost to safety.
Uganda outshot Canada 7-4 (with shots on target tied at 3-3) in the first half.
Uganda called for a penalty when Bogere went down in a tangle with Canada captain Richard Chukwu. Ukraine referee Oleksii Derevinskyi went to the pitchside monitor to review the play but ruled there was no foul.
The tournament’s video support system allows coaches two requests per game for a video review. If the review by the referee results in the original decision being changed, the team retains its request.
The system served Canada well in stoppage time.
Canada’s Kevin Khan had to come off with an injury in the 72nd minute.
Ahead of the tournament, Aiyenero, Antone Bossenberry, and Sasha Cernic were added to the roster with Andre Ali-Gayapersad, Owen Graham-Roache and Stefan Kapor withdrawing through injury.
The young Canadians booked their ticket to the World Cup in February, topping their five-team qualifying group — featuring host Bermuda, Anguilla, Curacao and Turks and Caicos — with a perfect 4-0-0 record. They outscored their opposition 28-2 with both goals conceded coming from the penalty spot.
Canada Soccer doubled its youth program budget this year, allowing coach Mike Vitulano to have more time with his team.
Uganda qualified by defeating Gambia 2-1 in an April playoff after finishing third in its group at the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The top two teams in each of the four groups booked their ticket to Qatar with the four third-place finishers meeting in a playoff to decide the final two qualifiers.
Spain’s Pedri, Brazil’s Neymar and Alisson Becker, England’s Phil Foden and South Korea’s Son Heung-min are among the world stars who have taken part in the U-17 World Cup.
