Uruguay hosts U14 soccer World Cup with 32 teams and 1,000 players

A thousand children from 32 teams will play the first soccer World Cup for under-14s from Saturday until Feb. 18 in Uruguay, the organizers said on Friday.

Teams from Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, the United States, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Guatemala, Venezuela and Uruguay will take part, although Uruguay is sending 14 teams, by far the largest contingent. Argentina and Mexico are sending five teams each.

Teams bearing the logo of top league teams include Penarol, Nacional, Boca, River, Pumas, y Cruz Azul. The matches will be played in the cities of Minas, Maldonado, Rocha in the east, Durazno in the center, Tucarembo in the north and Montevideo, the country's capital.

The manager of Autonomous National University of Mexico team, the Pumas, said he had trained a team to play a good role, but said the main value of the game is to give the team experience of playing outside Mexico.

Diego Martinez Monroy, a mid-fielder for Mexican team Cruz Azul (Blue Cross), said his only goal was to be the champion, represent his nation and raise Cruz Azul's name to the skies.

The organizers said that they had the opportunity to promote the values of self help, freedom, the integration of ideals, rules and convictions, and accepting oneself, win or lose, through this competition.

This year's edition of the under-14 contest is called the Jose Nasazzi, honoring the man who was captain of Uruguay's team in 1924 and 1928 Olympics and in the 1930 World Cup.

Source: Xinhua