A select team made up of players from Bermuda's Under-17 national team will warm up for the Youth World Cup qualifiers by heading to the US for one of the biggest youth football tournaments in the world.

An 18-man squad jets off to Minnesota later this week for the Schwan's USA competition, which showcases more than 1,000 teams from 22 countries.

For the first time, the event will include an English-based team in the form of Championship League outfit Burnley FC.

The Schwan's USA Cup Weekend runs from July 11-13, while the Schwan's USA Cup is staged from July 15-19 with all matches to be played at National Sports Centre – the world's largest football complex.

Bermuda head coach Mark Wade said the tournament would give his team one last opportunity to play in a competitive environment before their trip to Trinidad for the World Cup qualifiers later this month.

"This tournament will give me a final chance to look at the squad before selecting my 20-man team for the qualifiers," said Wade, who will be accompanied on the trip by his assistant Ray Jones and Bermuda Football Association technical director Derek Broadley.

"We aren't taking the official Bermuda Under-17 team to Minnesota but the guys going are from the national team's pool of players.

"The tournament is quite close to the qualifiers and we will only have nine days back on the Island before heading to Trinidad.

"But it will allow the players another opportunity to experience a competitive environment and that's what's important."

Wade believes his team have more than enough ability to progress from their qualifying group, which includes host nation Trinidad, Aruba and Antilles.

"We reached the quarter-finals of the Caribbean Football Union Cup last year before losing to Trinidad, who we meet again in the qualifiers," he said.

"I'm confident we can have a good tournament and advance past the first stage."

Bermuda Under-20s are also preparing for their World Cup qualifiers with Kentoine Jennings' side travelling to Cayman for their group games later this month.