Brazil in Netherlands' path

European trio
The finals run from 16 September-2 October, and Turkey, the Netherlands and Italy booked their places in the 16-team tournament by finishing first, second and third respectively at the 2005 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Tuscany two months ago. France, the 2001 world champions, and Spain, runners-up in the 2003 FIFA U-17 event in Finland, did not qualify.

Dutch play Brazil
Ruud Kaiser's Netherlands seem to have the toughest task, having been drawn in Group D with the Brazilians - who have won three of the ten previous editions - African champions Gambia and Qatar. Turkey, so impressive at the European Championship, are in Group B alongside Uruguay, Mexico and Australia. Italy play Ivory Coast, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States in Group C, while Group A pits Ghana, China and Costa Rica against the hosts.

Match dates
Turkey will be the first European team in action on 16 September against Australia in Lima, while the next day Italy tackle Ivory Coast in Chiclayo and the Netherlands meet Qatar in Piura. The group stage ends on 23 September, with the quarter-finals on 25/26 September, the last four on 29 September and the final and third-place play-off on 2 October in Lima.