Junior All Whites to face hosts Argentina at U20 World Cup

Photo: Photosport Ltd 2017

The Junior All Whites have drawn hosts Argentina in their pool for this year’s FIFA under-20 men’s World Cup.

Darren Bazeley’s New Zealand team will also face Uzbekistan and Guatemala after the draw was completed at a ceremony in Zurich on Saturday morning.

New Zealand qualified for the tournament for a sixth consecutive time, securing their spot by winning the OFC under-19 championship last year.

They have progressed through the group stage in each of the past three editions of the event but have yet to go beyond the round of 16.

Argentina were a late change to stage the tournament starting on xx after after Indonesia were stripped of hosting rights.

The South American nations is the most successful nation at under-20 level, having won the World Cup six times.

Uzbekistan will be at their fifth under-20 World Cup after qualifying as Asian Confederation champions while

Guatemala will represent CONCACAF (Central, North America and Caribbean) and will play at their second tournament.

New Zealand have never played Argentina or Guatemala at an under-20 World Cup tournament but have clashed with Uzbekistan once, losing 3-0 to them at the 2013 tournament in Turkey.

The Junior All Whites lost 3-1 to Guatemala at an invitational tournament in Indonesia in February.

The 24-team tournament opens on May 20, when New Zealand will face Guatemala in Santiago del Estero and ends with a final in La Plata on June 11.

New Zealand will face Uzbekistan in Santaigo del Estero on May 23 and Argentina in San Juan three days later.

The tournament will open on 20 May with four matches on the opening day in San Juan and Santiago del Estero, including hosts Argentina taking on Uzbekistan in Santiago del Estero Stadium.

– RNZ