FIFA U17 World Cup 2017: How all the 24 teams qualified for the showpiece event

Group E

Honduras | Japan | New Caledonia | France

Honduras ended up being the runners-up both at the Central American zone qualifiers and CONCACAF U-17 Championship, the former behind Costa Rica and the later to the USA.

Japan made amends for their 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup absence with a sparkling show at the 2016 AFC U-16. They aced their group and despite a tough win over UAE by 1-0, they swam through to finals where they were felled by a new-found form team Iraq.

One of the three first-time qualifiers at any FIFA event with India and Niger, New Caledonia had to rev up their game to reach where they are now. Having given their all they collapsed to New Zealand 1-7 in the ultimate match of that region.

Though France will be in action in the main fray it was by the skin of their teeth. A heavy defeat in the quarters against Spain (1-3) at this year’s UEFA U-17 European Championship could have jeopardised their entry, but the ‘Les Bleuets’ made most of a subsequent second life constituting a play-off between two best losing quarter-finalists by defeating Hungary (1-0) and stole a place in the draws.