Football at the youth level is usually a mess of nerves and raw talent, but when you put a yellow jersey against a yellow and blue one, things get heavy. Honestly, the Colombia Sub 17 vs Brasil Sub 17 rivalry isn't just about kids playing ball. It’s about who owns the future of South American football. We saw this peak recently in April 2025 during the Sudamericano Sub-17 final, and let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster that left the home crowd in Cartagena absolutely gutted.
Colombia had the dream run. Playing at home, the atmosphere at the Estadio Jaime Morón León was electric. People expected a Samba masterclass from Brazil, but for about 88 minutes, the Colombians looked like they had the trophy in their hands.
The Heartbreak in Cartagena
You've probably seen the highlights, but they don't capture the tension. Jhon Keiner Sevillano put Colombia ahead in the 41st minute. It was a clinical finish that sent the stadium into a frenzy. For the rest of the match, Colombia sat deep, defending like their lives depended on it. Brazil kept knocking. They had 15 shots compared to Colombia's 10. They controlled the ball, but they couldn't find a way through the Colombian wall.
Then came the 88th minute.
Angelo Candido—remember that name—found a pocket of space and equalized. Just like that, the air left the stadium. In youth tournaments, there’s no extra time in the final; it goes straight to the "lottery" of penalties.
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The Penalty Shootout Breakdown
Penalties are cruel. They're even crueler when you're 16 years old and the weight of a nation is on your shoulders. Brazil was perfect. Colombia... wasn't.
- Brazil Scorers: Gustavo Gomes, Tiaguinho, Ruan Pablo, and Dell all converted.
- Colombia Struggles: J.J. Cataño and Feder Rivas missed their marks.
- Final Result: Brazil won 4-1 on penalties after the 1-1 draw.
It was Brazil's 14th title. Fourteen. They basically own this tournament. Even when they aren't at their absolute best, they find a way to win. It’s sort of their thing.
Why the Colombia Sub 17 vs Brasil Sub 17 Matchup is Different
Most youth games are forgettable. This one wasn't. Why? Because the tactical gap is closing. Historically, Brazil would just out-skill everyone. Now, Colombia is producing athletes who are tactically disciplined and physically dominant.
Look at the stats from that April 12 final. Colombia actually held 53% of the possession. You don't see many teams—at any level—take the ball away from Brazil. The expected goals (xG) favored Brazil (0.69 to 0.29), which shows that while Colombia had the ball, Brazil had the better "looks." But the fact that Colombia dictated the tempo for long stretches is a huge shift in the power dynamic.
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Players to Watch from Both Sides
If you’re a scout or just a hardcore fan, these are the kids who will be in Europe in twenty minutes:
- Thomás de Martis (Brazil): He finished as the tournament's top scorer with 6 goals. He’s got that "it" factor—he moves like a veteran.
- Jhon Keiner Sevillano (Colombia): A beast in the box. His goal in the final wasn't a fluke; his movement throughout the Sudamericano was top-tier.
- Ruan Pablo (Brazil): Scored twice against Chile earlier in the tournament and was the heartbeat of the midfield in the final.
- Santiago Londoño (Colombia): He’s the creative spark. Everything Colombia does well usually starts with him.
The World Cup Context
Both teams used this rivalry as a springboard for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025. By reaching the final, they both punched their tickets easily. In Qatar, we saw more of the same. Colombia looked sharp, beating Korea DPR 2-0 in the group stages with goals from Miguel Solarte and Londoño.
Brazil, interestingly, struggled a bit more on the world stage than they did in South America. They drew 1-1 with Zambia—a game where they needed a late header from Dell just to save face. It goes to show that while they dominate their neighbors, the global gap is shrinking too.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Brazil is just "magic." That’s a lazy take. Their U-17 success is built on a massive scouting network and a relentless winning culture. When they went down 1-0 to Colombia, they didn't panic. They just changed their shape and started overlapping on the wings.
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On the flip side, people think Colombia "choked." Honestly, that's harsh. Drawing with Brazil in a final is a massive achievement. Losing on penalties is a coin flip. If Cataño’s shot is two inches to the left, we’re talking about a Colombian golden generation.
Tactical Evolution
We are seeing a move away from the traditional 4-2-2-2 Brazil used to love. In the recent Colombia Sub 17 vs Brasil Sub 17 clashes, both teams have flirted with modern 4-3-3 systems.
- Colombia's Setup: High press, quick transitions, relying on the speed of Sevillano.
- Brazil's Setup: Wide play, creating 2-on-1 situations on the flanks, and late runs into the box from midfielders like Angelo Candido.
Future Outlook
The next time these two meet, the faces will be different, but the pressure will be the same. Brazil remains the "Final Boss" of South American football, but Colombia has proven they aren't scared anymore. They've moved past just "hoping to compete" to "expecting to win."
If you want to keep track of these kids, follow the progress of the 2026 U-20 cycle. Most of these players will jump straight into that age bracket. Watch for Thomás de Martis to potentially make a move to a European academy—there are already rumors about Portuguese clubs sniffing around. For Colombia, keep an eye on Londoño. He has the profile of a player who could break into the senior national team sooner rather than later.
Check the official CONMEBOL match reports for full lineups and disciplinary records if you're into the nitty-gritty details of the foul counts, which, by the way, were unusually high in the final (18 for Colombia, 12 for Brazil). It was a scrap, not just a game.
To stay updated on the next generation of this rivalry, keep an eye on the scheduled friendlies for the 2026 season as these squads begin their transition into the U-20 ranks. You should also follow the individual progress of Sevillano and De Martis in their respective domestic leagues, as their market value is expected to spike before the next summer transfer window.