The United States drew North Korea, Ivory Coast and Italy at the 2005 U-17 World Championship, which will take place Sept. 16-Oct. 2 in Peru. The U.S., the only country that has taken part in all 10 of the previous world championships at this age group, faces North Korea Sept. 17 and Italy Sept. 20 at Elias Aguirre Stadium in Chiclayo, before moving to Lima to face Ivory Coast at Nacional Stadium.
NORTH KOREA. The North Koreans qualified for the first time for the U-17 World Championship by finishing second at the 2004 Asia U-17 championship. Their star is forward, Choe Myong Ho, dubbed the "Korean Ronaldo."
ITALY. Playing at home, the Italians beat Croatia, 2-1, in overtime in the third-place match of the 2005 U-17 European championship. Both Manchester United and Arsenal are said to be following U-17 goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso (Chievo).
IVORY COAST. The Little Elephants qualified for the U-17 finals for the first time since 1987. They finished third at the 2005 U-17 African championship in Gambia, where right winger Ismael Beko Fofana, a product of the famed Abidjan soccer academy ASEC Mimos, was their top scorer with four goals. Fofana is already a member of ASEC's senior team, which is playing in the African Champions League.