SAIPAN – The Northern Mariana Islands U20 men’s national team left Saipan Monday morning for a training camp in Japan before heading to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association said.
The 23-player squad, led by head coach Atsushi Hanita, was drawn into Group I with hosts Mongolia and Guam. The qualifiers run Aug. 31 through Sept. 6 at the MFF Football Centre in Ulaanbaatar’s Khan-Uul District, a 3,000-seat artificial-turf venue.
The NMI opens against Mongolia on Aug. 31, then faces Guam on Sept. 3. Mongolia and Guam close the group on Sept. 6. All three matches are listed for 3 p.m. on the schedule NMIFA released.
Nepal had been drawn as the fourth team in Group I but is out of the competition. FIFA suspended the All Nepal Football Association on June 24 over third-party interference in the federation’s affairs, and the Asian Football Confederation had told Nepal it would be removed from the qualifiers unless the suspension was lifted by Aug. 1. NMIFA said Nepal has withdrawn and Group I will be contested by three teams.
NMIFA held a send-off ceremony for the team Friday evening at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, with remarks from NMIFA President Jerry Tan and Executive Committee member Alex Sablan.
Hanita is joined on the staff by assistant coaches Jersh Angeles and Taka Borja, goalkeeper coach Aloyzeus Angeles, technical analyst Sunjoon Tenorio, team manager Mikky Buno and team doctor Brian Briones.
The roster: Zuriel Abejo (1), Brandon Teigita (2), Taher Shakir (3), Napu Pangelinan (4), Jerz Navarro (5), Yutaka Kadokura (6), Wataru Kadokura (7), Ezekiel Babauta (8), Takeru Jim (9), Paul Lizama (10), Tyler Omelau (11), Landon Pudney (12), Kian Estolas (13), Akoni Matsumoto (14), Theo Joab (15), Jayson Tagabuel (16), Arstin Tagabuel (17), Eamon Tang (18), Taiga Namai-Scoggins (19), Moshe Sikkel (20), Nolan Ngewakl (21), Casey Chambers (22) and Terell Kileleman-Hix (23).
NMIFA said photos and updates from the training camp and the tournament will be posted on the association’s social media pages. The qualifiers feed into the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup in China.
