Trinidad and Tobago national football team

Trinidad and Tobago

Nickname(s)	The Soca Warriors
Association	Trinidad and Tobago Football Association
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation	CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach	Stephen Hart
Captain	Kenwyne Jones
Most caps	Angus Eve (117)
Top scorer	Stern John (70)
Home stadium	Hasely Crawford Stadium
FIFA code	TRI
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	78 13 (24 November 2016)
Highest	25 (June 2001)
Lowest	106 (October 2010)
Elo ranking
Current	86 6 (15 November 2016)
Highest	36 (1937)
Lowest	116 (September 1987)
First international
British Guiana 1–4 Trinidad and Tobago  (British Guiana; 21 July 1905)[1]
Biggest win
Trinidad and Tobago 11–0 Aruba  (Arima, Trinidad and Tobago; 23 April 1989)
Biggest defeat
Mexico 7–0 Trinidad and Tobago  (Mexico City, Mexico; 8 October 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2006)
Best result	Group stage, 2006
CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup
Appearances	15 (first in 1967)
Best result	Runners-up, 1973

The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed the Soca Warriors, represents the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in international football. It is controlled by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and competes in both CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) and the Caribbean Football Union, its sub-continental confederation. The team is ranked 54th in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings, and 103rd in the World Football Elo Ratings. They reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and currently holds the record of being the smallest nation (both in size and population) to ever qualify for a FIFA World Cup.

The national team competes in the FIFA World Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, in addition to the Caribbean Cup and other competitions by invitation. The Soca Warriors lone appearance at the FIFA World Cup came in 2006 after the team defeated Bahrain 2–1 on aggregate in the CONCACAF–AFC intercontinental play-off. The team has qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup on eight occasions with their best performance in 2000 after reaching the semi-finals, finishing 3rd. However, the national team has experienced great success in the Caribbean Cup having won the sub-continental competition eight times and runners-up on five occasions.

The separate Trinidad and Tobago national football teams are not related to the national team and are not directly affiliated with the game's governing bodies of FIFA or CONCACAF, but are affiliated with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.

History

1970s

At the 1973 CONCACAF Championship, Trinidad and Tobago fell two points short of qualifying for the 1974 World Cup Finals in controversial fashion. Trinidad and Tobago lost a crucial game on 4 December 1973 against hosts Haiti 2–1 after being denied five goals. The referee, José Roberto Henríquez of El Salvador, and Canadian linesman James Higuet were subsequently banned for life by FIFA for the dubious events of the match.^[2][3][4]

1980s to 1990s: The Strike Squad

Trinidad and Tobago came within one game of qualifying for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Nicknamed the Strike Squad during the qualifying campaign, Trinidad and Tobago needed only a draw to qualify in their final game played at home against the United States on 19 November 1989. In front of an over-capacity crowd of more than 30,000 at the National Stadium on Red Day,^[5] Paul Caligiuri of the United States scored the only goal of the game in the 38th minute dashing Trinidad and Tobago's qualification hopes.^[6] For the good behaviour of the crowd at the stadium, despite the devastating loss and overcrowded stands, the spectators of Trinidad and Tobago were awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1989.^[7]

2000s

2006 FIFA World Cup

Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, its first-ever qualification for the tournament. During their qualifying campaign, they sat at the bottom of the table in the final round of qualifying with one point from three. However, after the arrival of Leo Beenhakker as team coach and the recalling of veteran players Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy, Trinidad and Tobago reversed its fortunes and placed fourth in the group. They qualified via a playoff against Bahrain, recovering from a 1–1 draw at home to win 1–0 in Manama, Bahrain to book a place in the finals. As a result, Trinidad and Tobago became the smallest country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

In Germany, Trinidad and Tobago were grouped with England, Sweden and Paraguay in Group B. They drew their first game 0–0 against Sweden despite going down to ten men early in the second half. They lost both their remaining matches against England and Paraguay by a 2–0 margin.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  England 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7  Sweden 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1 5  Paraguay 3 1 0 2 2 2 0 3  Trinidad and Tobago 3 0 1 2 0 4 −4 1

Team   Score   Team Trinidad and Tobago  0–0  Sweden England  2–0  Trinidad and Tobago Paraguay  2–0  Trinidad and Tobago

2010s

2010 World Cup Cycle

Trinidad and Tobago began their campaign in the Second Round with a home and away series against Bermuda. Trinidad and Tobago lost the first match at home 1–2, but bounced back to win the away leg in Bermuda 2–0 to progress to the third round 3–2 on aggregate. The Soca Warriors advanced to Group 1 of the Third Round alongside the United States, Guatemala, and Cuba. Trinidad and Tobago progressed to the Fourth Round by placing second in the group with eleven points from six games. This qualified Trinidad and Tobago for the Fourth Round, or Hexagonal, against Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States. The Fourth Round was also played in a home and away format among the six teams involved. Qualification quickly turned disastrous for Trinidad and Tobago as they tied 2–2 with El Salvador after leading 2–0. They would then tie 1–1 with Honduras following a late-strike. However, three consecutive losses to the United States, Costa Rica, and Mexico found the Soca Warriors bottom of the Hexagonal with two points from their first five matches. In their sixth match, they recorded their first win of the round by defeating El Salvador 1–0. However, the victory was short lived as they suffered losses to Honduras and the United States the following month; ending their hopes to qualify for the World Cup.

2014 World Cup Cycle

Trinidad and Tobago entered qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in the Second Round of CONCACAF as a seeded team with Guyana, Bermuda, and Barbados the other teams drawn in Group B. The Soca Warriors defeated Bermuda (1–0) and Bardados (2–0) in their first two matches to earn a full six points. However, on 7 October 2011, Trinidad and Tobago lost away to Bermuda in Devonshire Parish 2–1 to hurt its chances of advancing to the Third Round of qualification.^[8] The team quickly rebounded four days later by defeating Barbados 4–0 in Hasely Crawford Stadium with a hat-trick from Lester Peltier.^[9] Entering the final two matches in the Second Round, Trinidad and Tobago found itself in second place behind Guyana by one point. As only the group winner would advance to the Third Round of qualification, the Soca Warriors needed to take four points in the next two matches both facing Guyana to advance. Trinidad and Tobago first traveled to Providence, Guyana to face the Golden Jaguars on 11 November 2011. With an early goal from Ricky Shakes and another from Leon Cort in the 81st minute, Trinidad and Tobago found itself behind 2–0 and facing elimination. Kenwyne Jones managed to pull the team within a goal in the 93rd minute, but it was too late as the match would end 2–1 in favor of Guyana.^[10] With the loss, Trinidad and Tobago were officially eliminated from qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 12 January 2012, Otto Pfister was sacked following a disappointing campaign which saw the country's earliest exit from World Cup qualification since 1994.^[11]

Team image

Home stadium

For the first eighty years of their existence, Trinidad and Tobago played their home matches all around the country with Queen's Park Oval, generally thought of as the most picturesque and largest of the old cricket grounds in the West Indies, as the most often used venue.^[12] The cricket ground served as the country's largest stadium until the new National Stadium was built in Mucurapo, Port of Spain, to host the nation's athletics competitions and international football matches.

The stadium later was renovated and renamed after Hasely Crawford, the first person from Trinidad and Tobago to win an Olympic gold medal, prior to Trinidad and Tobago hosting the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship. The stadium currently has a seating capacity of 23,000 and is owned by the Trinidad and Tobago government and managed through the Ministry of Sport via its special purpose state agency called SporTT.^[13]

Supporters

The major supporters' group for the national team is the Soca Warriors Supporters Club or the Warrior Nation. The group is a non-profit organisation that is independent of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association. Formed shortly after Trinidad and Tobago secured qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the supporters' club was organised by Soca Warriors Online founder Inshan Mohammed and Nigel Myers.

The group's activities include promoting teams locally and globally, lobbying the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association as representatives of football fans, advocating fair pricing and allocation of event tickets, organising travel for fans to home and away matches, providing a family-oriented fans' organisation, and promoting football among the young people of Trinidad and Tobago.

Players

For all past and present players who have appeared for the national team, see Trinidad and Tobago national team players.

Current squad

The following players were called up for the World Cup qualifying matches against Costa Rica on November 11 and Honduras on November 15, 2016
Goals and caps are updated as of November 15, 2016 after the match against Honduras.

0#0	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Jan-Michael Williams	(1984-10-26) 26 October 1984	75	0	Central
	1GK	Marvin Phillip	(1984-08-01) 1 August 1984	60	0	Morvant Caledonia United
	1GK	Adrian Foncette	(1988-10-10) 10 October 1988	3	0	Police
	2DF	Daneil Cyrus	(1990-12-15) 15 December 1990	61	0	W Connection
	2DF	Aubrey David	(1990-10-11) 11 October 1990	34	1	FC Dallas
	2DF	Carlyle Mitchell	(1987-08-08) 8 August 1987	33	1	Seoul E-Land
	2DF	Radanfah Abu Bakr	(1987-02-12) 12 February 1987	32	2	Sillamäe Kalev
	2DF	Sheldon Bateau	(1991-01-29) 29 January 1991	27	3	Krylia Sovetov Samara
	2DF	Yohance Marshall	(1986-01-22) 22 January 1986	14	1	Murciélagos
	2DF	Jelani Peters		0	0	W Connection
	3MF	Khaleem Hyland	(1989-06-05) 5 June 1989	68	4	Westerlo
	3MF	Joevin Jones	(1991-08-03) 3 August 1991	59	6	Seattle Sounders
	3MF	Andre Boucaud	(1984-10-10) 10 October 1984	44	2	Dagenham & Redbridge
	3MF	Kevan George	(1990-01-30) 30 January 1990	27	0	Jacksonville Armada
	3MF	Cordell Cato	(1992-07-15) 15 July 1992	20	2	San Jose Earthquakes
	3MF	Marcus Joseph	(1991-04-29) 29 April 1991	11	1	Central
	3MF	Levi Garcia	(1997-11-20) 20 November 1997	10	2	AZ
	3MF	Jomal Williams	(1994-04-28) 28 April 1994	8	1	Murciélagos
	3MF	Neveal Hackshaw	(1995-09-21) 21 September 1995	6	0	Charleston Battery
	3MF	John Bostock	(1992-01-15) 15 January 1992	0	0	Lens
	4FW	Kenwyne Jones (Captain)	(1984-10-05) 5 October 1984	87	23	Central
	4FW	Willis Plaza	(1987-08-03) 3 August 1987	25	7	San Juan Jabloteh
	4FW	Trevin Caesar	(1989-04-26) 26 April 1989	12	3	Orange County Blues

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called to the squad in the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Greg Ranjitsingh	(1993-07-18) 18 July 1993	0	0	Louisville City	v.  United States, 6 September 2016
GK	Glenroy Samuel	(1990-04-05) 5 April 1990	1	0	Morvant Caledonia United	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
DF	Mekeil Williams	(1990-07-24) 24 July 1990	16	1	Colorado Rapids	vs.  Martinique, 11 October 2016
DF	Tristan Hodge	(1993-10-09) 9 October 1993	4	0	Toronto FC II	vs.  Martinique, 11 October 2016
DF	Curtis Gonzales	(1989-01-26) 26 January 1989	16	0	Defence Force	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
DF	Andre Etienne	(1990-11-09) 9 November 1990	3	0	Central	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
DF	Weslie John	(1991-07-29) 29 July 1991	2	0	UES	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
DF	Alvin Jones	(1994-07-09) 9 July 1994	2	0	W Connection	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
DF	Justin Hoyte	(1984-11-20) 20 November 1984	18	0	Unattached	v.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 29 March 2016
DF	Elijah Belgrave	(1989-01-08) 8 January 1989	1	0	Police	v.  Grenada, 19 March 2016
DF	Jamali Garcia	(1993-01-27) 27 January 1993	1	0	Defence Force	v.  Grenada, 19 March 2016
DF	Kevon Villaroel	(1987-12-17) 17 December 1987	0	0	Central	v.  Grenada, 19 March 2016
MF	Kevin Molino	(1990-06-17) 17 June 1990	35	16	Orlando City	vs.  Martinique, 11 October 2016
MF	Hughtun Hector	(1984-10-16) 16 October 1984	37	7	W Connection	v.  United States, 6 September 2016
MF	Leston Paul	(1990-03-11) 11 March 1990	9	0	Central	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
MF	Sean de Silva	(1990-01-17) 17 January 1990	7	0	Central	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
MF	Nathan Lewis	(1990-07-20) 20 July 1990	2	0	San Juan Jabloteh	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
MF	Jason Marcano	(1983-12-30) 30 December 1983	12	0	Central	v.  Grenada, 19 March 2016
MF	Nathaniel Garcia	(1991-10-29) 29 October 1991	1	0	Central	v.  Grenada, 19 March 2016
MF	Akeem Humphrey	(1995-11-25) 25 November 1995	0	0	Club Sando	v.  Grenada, 19 March 2016
MF	Lester Peltier	(1988-09-13) 13 September 1988	36	6	1. FK Příbram	v.  Haiti, 8 January 2016
FW	Shahdon Winchester	(1992-01-08) 8 January 1992	14	1	Murciélagos	vs.  Martinique, 11 October 2016
FW	Makesi Lewis	(1989-01-08) 8 January 1989	3	0	Police	v.  China PR, 3 June 2016
FW	Jerwyn Balthazar	(1982-12-17) 17 December 1982	1	0	Defence Force	v.  Grenada, 19 March 2016
FW	Ataullah Guerra	(1987-11-14) 14 November 1987	40	6	Charleston Battery	v.  Haiti, 8 January 2016
FW	Jonathan Glenn	(1987-08-27) 27 August 1987	6	1	Breiðablik	v.  Haiti, 8 January 2016
FW	Rundell Winchester	(1993-12-16) 16 December 1993	4	0	Unattached	v.  Haiti, 8 January 2016

Previous squads

Results and schedule

2016

Records

As of 6 September 2016
Players in bold are still active, at least at club level.

Players with an equal number of caps are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.

Most capped players

Rank	Player	Position	Caps	Goals	Career[14]
1	Eve, AngusAngus Eve	MF	117	34	1994–2005
2	John, SternStern John	FW	115	70	1995–2011
3	Andrews, MarvinMarvin Andrews	DF	102	10	1996–2009
4	Theobald, DensillDensill Theobald	MF	98	2	2002–2013
5	Lawrence, DennisDennis Lawrence	DF	89	5	2000–2010
6	Edwards, CarlosCarlos Edwards	MF	88	4	1999–2013
7	Jones, KenwyneKenwyne Jones	FW	83	23	2003–
8	Ince, ClaytonClayton Ince	GK	79	0	1997–2009
9	Latapy, RussellRussell Latapy	MF	78	29	1988–2009
10	Dwarika, ArnoldArnold Dwarika	MF	74	28	1993–2009

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Position	Goals	Caps	Rate	Career[14]
1	John, SternStern John	FW	70	115	0.61	1995–2011
2	Eve, AngusAngus Eve	MF	34	117	0.29	1994–2005
3	Latapy, RussellRussell Latapy	MF	29	81	0.36	1988–2009
4	Dwarika, ArnoldArnold Dwarika	MF	28	73	0.38	1993–2009
5	Glen, CornellCornell Glen	FW	23	68	0.34	2002–2013
6	Jones, KenwyneKenwyne Jones	FW	23	83	0.28	2003–
7	Lewis, LeonsonLeonson Lewis	FW	22	36	0.61	1988–1996
8	Pierre, NigelNigel Pierre	FW	22	56	0.39	1999–2005
9	Yorke, DwightDwight Yorke	FW	19	74	0.26	1989–2009
10	Jorsling, DevornDevorn Jorsling	FW	17	42	0.40	2007–

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

Trinidad and Tobago first appeared at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and currently holds the record of being the smallest nation (both in size and population) to ever qualify for a FIFA World Cup. The Soca Warriors finished bottom of the group with one point from the team's three matches. Even though the team did not advance in the competition, Trinidad and Tobago recorded its first point from the FIFA World Cup after a 0–0 draw to Sweden in its first match.

Trinidad and Tobago failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup between 1966 and 2002, then again in 2010 and 2014.

Trinidad and Tobago's FIFA World Cup Record
FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record							Manager
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Did not enter									Did not enter
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966	Did not qualify									4	1	0	3	5	12		Braithwaite
1970										4	1	1	2	4	10		Laing
1974										9	6	1	2	27	8		Verity
1978										6	2	2	2	10	9		Vidale
1982										4	1	2	1	1	2		Corneal
1986										4	0	1	3	2	7		Warner
1990										12	5	5	2	13	6		Cummings
1994										4	2	1	1	7	4		Isa / D'Oliviera
1998										8	2	1	5	15	10		de Araújo / Vraneš
2002										22	10	4	8	32	28		Porterfield / Simões
2006	Group stage	27th of 32	3	0	1	2	0	4		20	11	2	7	30	25		St. Clair / Beenhakker
2010	Did not qualify									18	5	5	8	22	30		Maturana / Latapy
2014										6	4	0	2	12	4		Pfister
2018	Qualification in progress									4	3	1	0	11	3		Hart
Total	Group stage	1/20	3	0	1	2	0	4		125	53	26	46	191	158

* Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. Darker color indicates win, normal color indicates lost.

** Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won.

*** Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Managers

Honours

Continental competitions

See also

• Football in Trinidad and Tobago
• Trinidad and Tobago women's national football team

References

General

• Trinidad and Tobago Football History

Specific

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trinidad and Tobago national football team.

• Official Website
• Soca Warriors Online, National Team
• Trinidad and Tobago at FIFA