JAMAICA’S Under-17s have been drawn in a tough Group B alongside Argentina, France and Japan for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup set for Mexico starting on June 18, but head coach Wendell Downswell remains optimistic.

“It’s a tough draw. All the games in this World Cup are going to be tough and the group will be a challenging one for us,” Downswell told the Observer yesterday after training.

“Argentina, one of the top teams; France and Japan are on the move, but our main intention is to focus on the first game against Japan and take it from there,” he said.

Jamaica will open their campaign on June 18 in Monterrey against Asian outfit Japan, while play South American giants Argentina on the same day.

Downswell knows the task at hand will be a mammoth one and was hoping he would have drawn an African or Central American team in the group.

The official draw was held at the famous Sala Nezahualcóyotl Concert Hall in the heart of Mexico City, and ended a nervous wait for the 24 finalists as they discovered the identity of their rivals in the group phase, which kicks off with hosts Mexico taking on Korea DPR in Morelia on June 18.

The event was reportedly attended by 600 guests and some 200 journalists. The red-carpet gala ceremony was full of colour and local charm and was streamed live on television.

Howard McIntosh, head of the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) technical committee, also acknowledged the massive task for the Jamaicans, who qualified as the fourth best team from CONCACAF.

“The first thing that came mind was the 1998 World Cup when we also drew Japan and Argentina in France. It was an easy connection to make,” McIntosh said.

“But the truth is, when 24 countries being the top in the world and playing in the world Cup, there is no easy group. In a World Cup tournament it will be very difficult not to have a tough zone and some might argue that others get a tough zone, but you have to deal with the cards that you get,” said McIntosh.

“Now the work begins with the final preparations and final touches, but we have some challenges because of exam and resources. The coaches are working hard and they can now start tactical training now that we know the teams… and move seriously to June 18,” he added.

The squad will depart for Mexico on June 7 and will participate in a pre-tournament camp.

“We have games already lined up… and some players might leave on the seventh and some on the ninth because of exams,” said McIntosh, who said a practice game against Canada had been cancelled because of exam commitments.

However, the Under-17s are participating in the KSAFA Under-20 Confederation League as a guest team and have already won four games, drawn three and lost one.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Groups

Group A (Morelia/Monterrey): Mexico, North Korea, Congo, the Netherlands

Group B (Monterrey/Morelia): Japan, Jamaica, France, Argentina.

Group C (Pachuca/Torreon): Uruguay, Canada, Rwanda, England.

Group D (Torreon/Pachuca): U.S., Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, New Zealand.

Group E (Queretaro/Guadalajara): Burkina Faso, Panama, Germany, Ecuador.

Group F (Guadalajara/Queretaro): Australia, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Denmark.