Ceren, El Salvador end Trinidad and Tobago's dream

Two clinical right-footed strikes from El Salvador captain Brenda Ceren were all it took to dash this country's 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup hopes, as the senior women's football team lost 2-0 in a must-win Concacaf W Qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, tonight. 

With the win, El Salvador deservedly move on to the Concacaf W Championship, while Trinidad and Tobago's qualifying journey ends here. Hopefully, for the sake of the women's programme, the team doesn't need to be weeks or months away from a qualifying competition before a staff and competent team can be put together. 

In December, coach Damian Briggs' TT team got a 5-0 win away to Barbados, before clawing back to get a 2-2 draw away to Honduras last month. The latter result, combined with El Salvador's comfortable 3-0 and 13-0 wins over Honduras and Barbados, respectively, meant TT needed a win tonight to top group F and move on to the next phase of qualifying. 

Members of the TT women's football team huddle during a session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Photo courtesy TTFA

In what is quickly becoming a theme when supporting the varying national teams, fans would have left the stadium pointing to the team's fight, heart, and determination. However, overall, the team lacked the sustained quality and even fitness levels to trouble the visitors. And once Ceren opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a shot from a tight angle after being sprung on the counter, TT's task became an uphill one as they needed to score twice without conceding again. 

Unfortunately, despite cries and chants from fractions of the modest crowd, a comeback never looked likely. 

Teenage starlet Nikita Gosine was arguably TT's brightest outfield player, and she took on the mantle of the home team's attacking thrust once 37-year-old captain Kennya "Yaya" Cordner was substituted in the 61st minute. However, despite her best efforts and support from her family and cheering posse, the Pleasantville Secondary standout couldn't do it alone. She shouldn't need to. 

By that time, TT were already down 2-0, as Atlas FC's Ceren scored her second in the 51st minute when she toyed with the defenders before curling an exquisite shot past goalie Simone Eligon and into the bottom corner. Ceren comes from a football-mad family, as her three siblings have represented El Salvador at the international level. Tonight, she was in a class of her own. 

El Salvador women's football team captain Brenda Ceren. Photo courtesy Fifa 

Eligon could hardly be blamed for the goals conceded, as she made some key saves which kept her team in the contest and displayed composed handling for most of the match. 

The heart and grit in the TT team came from the 16-year-old Gosine and left back Kaitlyn Darwent, 17, who deputised in the place of injured AS Saint-Etienne defender Kedie Johnson, a big miss with her bombing runs down the flank. Liana Hinds also put in a shift in the middle of the park before making way in the final few moments. 

With 42 per cent possession to their name, the hosts did have fleeting moments of quality in the final third. Their best chance arguably fell to Gosine in the 27th minute, but she fired a left-footer over the bar from a tight angle after being found over the top by Asha James. In the 56th minute, Gosine had an instinctive swing at goal after a smart swivel outside the area, but Riley Melendez was equal to the task. 

In the end, it was another disappointing trip to the Hasely Crawford Stadium, but it was a fruitful one for El Salvador as they look to take their place in their maiden Concacaf W Championship. For the TT football faithful and those at the TT Football Association, the postmortem will now begin. 

TT women's football team flanker Nikita Gosine rides a tackle during the Concacaf W Qualifier away to Honduras in March 2026. Photo courtesy TTFA

Trinidad and Tobago Starting XI: 1.Simone Eligon (GK); 4.Emma Schneider, 12.Myla Schneider, 6.Victoria Swift, 22.Kaitlyn Darwent; 7.Liana Hinds, 8.Elise Franco; 11.Aaliyah Prince, 23.Asha James, 9.Nikita Gosine; 19.Kennya Cordner (captain). 

'Yaya' ready to lead from the front

Expect skipper Kennya "Yaya" Cordner to lead from the front when the Trinidad and Tobago women's football team play El Salvador from 6 pm today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo in a must-win Concacaf W Qualifier. 

At 37, Cordner is still a big part of the TT women's setup, and is expected to lead the line for coach Damian Briggs' team as they hunt the victory which will take them to the Concacaf W Championship. With El Salvador leading group F of the Concacaf W Qualifiers on six points, anything less than a win for the second-placed TT (four points) will spell the end of their 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup qualifying run. 

Speaking to media personality Whitney Husbands earlier this week during the team's residential camp, Cordner touched on the importance of her role as team leader. 

"As the captain, I have to lead from the front because I'm no stranger to the game. I am worldwide and international, so I have to lead as the captain that I am for the younger ones, because they are the future," Cordner said. 

Trinidad and Tobago women's football team coach Damian Briggs and team captain Kennya "Yaya" Cordner at yesterday's media briefing at Radisson Hotel in Port of Spain. Photos courtesy TTFA

"(The players) have to stamp their name and authority because we have to show (the) TT (public) that women could still play the football and we could still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup," Cordner said, of the intensity that will be needed for the El Salvador match. 

Though approaching 40, Cordner said she still has a lot left in the tank to produce at this level and has a burning desire to help her country get a step closer to next year's World Cup in Brazil. 

"Sometimes people feel your age is too big of a number for you to continue the game. Age is just a number," the Speyside-born forward said. "I'm 37, and I'll be 38 in November. I may not run like the 18, 16 and 24 year olds, but I can still run as much as 70-plus minutes in a football game because once you're mentally in it and you mentally want something...you will go after it." 

She said the residential camp was integral to building team chemistry off the field, and it also gave her a chance to rub shoulders with the younger players whom she expects to take up the mantle once she and other experienced heads call it a day. 

Gates for today's clash will open from 4 pm, while tickets will be on sale at the venue from 3 pm. Regular uncovered tickets are priced at $60, while two-for-one uncovered tickets are priced at $100. Covered tickets are priced at $120. 

Members of the Trinidad and Tobago women's football team go through their paces on the eve of their Concacaf W Qualifier with El Salvador. 

Briggs: We're all soldiers fighting for the cause

Trinidad and Tobago women's football team coach Damian Briggs said his players are all fully committed to the cause as they count down the days to their pivotal Concacaf W Qualifier against El Salvador at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on April 17. 

Briggs' charges began a residential training camp yesterday, and the coach reckons the time spent together off the pitch can forge an unbreakable bond as TT go into the must-win match. 

"The closer you can get off the pitch, the better for when you're on the pitch," Briggs told TT Football Association (TTFA) Media. "We're all soldiers, and we're all fighting for the same cause, and everyone is willing to die for someone." 

Trinidad and Tobago women's football team coach Damian Briggs talks to TTFA Media. 

            

Briggs may sound a bit extreme, but the situation is a do-or-die one for TT, who are second in group F on four points heading into the final group match. With only the group winner advancing to the Concacaf W Championship and keeping their 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup dreams alive, TT must defeat group leaders El Salvador (six points) to progress.

He said time away from the intense action allows his players to open up to each other, talk about their families, and share some of the things that bring them joy outside of football. When the game kicks off from 6 pm on April 17, though, Briggs knows it's all about business.

TT have made as many as five changes from the squad which went to Honduras and earned a comeback 2-2 draw last month, with midfielder Asha James among those back in the mix. TT will be without French-based left back Kedie Johnson, who scored a first-half penalty in the draw with Honduras. And though Johnson is unavailable, Briggs believes he has found the right formula by adding sufficient depth to the squad.

"For this one, we thought we just wanted to keep building on what we had. We looked across our bench and we wanted to have as strong a bench as we could have our starting XI," he said. "We had some new faces to look at and we then decided and chose the ones who fit in best with how we play and the style we want to play." 

Trinidad and Tobago left back Kedie Johnson (right) calmly passes her penalty into the net during her team's Concacaf W Qualifier against Honduras on March 4. Photo courtesy TTFA

                        
James is no stranger to the TT setup, but has been in and out of the squad in recent months due to issues with team management. James aside, the players drafted into the squad are central midfielder Summer Arjoon, 19-year-old attacking midfielder Sonia Lamarre, defender Sakiah Williams and striker Nia Hislop, the daughter of TT goalkeeping legend Shaka Hislop.

Briggs said the players want to be part of making history on this World Cup journey, and he asked the TT faithful to come out in their numbers for the team's only home game in this qualifying round.

"I think the girls have worked really hard during the campaign. They want to make the country and their families proud," Briggs said. "That 12th man. It's important to us because they give that energy, lift, and that boost. Them being there will make it more memorable for the players and everyone once we cross the line."

Regular tickets for the uncovered section are priced at $60, while there are two-for-one uncovered section tickets for $100. Tickets for the covered section are priced at $120. Gates open at 5 pm.

Tickets are on sale nationwide for Trinidad and Tobago's Concacaf W Qualifier against El Salvador on April 17.

'Grateful' Asha returns to national setup for Concacaf qualifier

Playmaker Asha James has returned to the Trinidad and Tobago women's football setup for their crucial Concacaf W Qualifier against El Salvador at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on April 17. 

The 26-year-old James has been included in a 23-member squad selected by head coach Damian Briggs and is in line to play her first match for the national team since their opening qualifier away to Barbados on December 1, 2025. Over the past year or so, James has been quite vocal about issues concerning the national team, even calling out the TT Football Association (TTFA) for its perceived lack of preparedness ahead of these qualifiers. 

James stepped away from the team before their qualifier away to Honduras last month, but the Tobago-born player is back and ready to make an impact for the must-win clash with El Salvador. 

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to be back with the national team for our final group match against El Salvador," James said. 

TT women's team midfielder Asha James. Photo courtesy James' Facebook page 

"We understand what's on the line, and there's a strong belief within the squad that we can get the job done and finish top of the group to move on in the World Cup qualifiers," the talented midfielder said. "It won't be easy, but we're ready for the battle." 

James aside, Briggs has drafted in four other players for next week's match, as Summer Arjoon, Nia Hislop, Sonia Lamarre, and California State University defender Sakiah Williams have also been included in the squad. Arjoon is a tidy, ball-playing central midfielder. Hislop is a forward at the University of Massachusetts and the daughter of legendary TT goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, while the 19-year-old Lamarre impressed for TT's under-20 unit at the Jewels of the Caribbean tournament in December. 

While Briggs will be happy to have the services of James once again, France-based left back Kedie Johnson will be a big miss to the squad. The impressive flanker has been ruled out after failing to recover from a concussion she suffered while playing with AS Saint-Etienne. Saudi Arabia-based midfielder Maria-Frances Serrant remains a high-profile absentee. Among the team's regulars are veteran forward Kennya Cordner, Liana Hinds, Aaliyah Prince, Victoria Swift, and teenage star Nikita Gosine, who rescued a 2-2 draw for TT against Honduras with a late penalty. 

TT women's football team coach Damian Briggs (C) speaks to the media at the launch of his team's Concacaf W Qualifier against El Salvador. The launch was held at SIP on the Ave, Ariapita Avenue, on April 2. Photo courtesy TTFA

The task for Briggs' team is a straightforward one, as they must defeat group F leaders El Salvador (six points) in order to advance to the Concacaf W Championship, the final qualifying tourney for the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup. TT are second in the four-team group on four points. El Salvador blanked Honduras 3-0 in their first match, before hammering Barbados 13-0 last month. Meanwhile, TT opened their campaign with a 5-0 victory over the Bajans, before earning a comeback draw against Honduras to stay alive in the qualifiers. 

As he takes his team into a camp this weekend, Briggs cuts a confident figure. 

"We've selected what we believe is the best possible squad at this time," Briggs told TTFA Media. "There are a few additions who will bring added depth, along with some experienced players returning to the group." 

The match will kick off at 6 pm on April 17, with gates open from 5 pm. Uncovered tickets are priced at $60 (single) and $100 (two-on-one special), with covered tickets priced at $120. 

TT women's team for Concacaf W Qualifier with El Salvador: 

Goalkeepers: Malaika Dedier, Simone Eligon, Akyla Walcott. 

Defenders: Kaitlyn Darwent, Javanah Moreno, Emma Schneider, Myla Schneider, Cicely Spencer Wickham, Victoria Swift, Christa Waterman, Sakiah Williams. 

Midfielders: Summer Arjoon, Ariana Borneo, Elise Franco, Nikita Gosine, Liana Hinds, Asha James, Sonia Lamarre.  

Forwards: Alexcia Ali, Kennya Cordner, Nia Hislop, Aaliyah Prince, Gabrielle Williams. 

TT women's football team squad for the Concacaf W Qualifier against El Salvador on April 17. Photo courtesy TTFA

Rio Cardines signs contract extension with Crystal Palace

Trinidad and Tobago men's team full-back Rio Cardines has signed a contract extension with English Premier League club Crystal Palace. The extension was confirmed earlier today by Palace, with the 19-year-old Cardines now having a deal which runs until June 2028. 

The Stevenage-born Cardines has been a regular in the red, white, and black since featuring for coach Shawn Cooper's national under-17 team in 2023. He then went on to represent TT at the under-20 level before making his senior team debut in the Unity Cup in May 2025 under former coach Dwight Yorke. 

Trinidad and Tobago defender Rio Cardines proudly holds his Crystal Palace jersey aloft. Photo courtesy Crystal Palace

The feisty Palace right back played all three matches at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, and played the first four matches for TT in the final round of qualifying towards the 2026 Fifa World Cup. More recently, Cardines turned out for TT at the Fifa Series in Uzbekistan last month, as interim coach Derek King's team lost to both Venezuela and Gabon. In the latter match against Gabon, Cardines played a hand in the two goals scored by captain Levi Garcia with a pair of delightful set pieces. Both Cardines and Garcia, however, missed from the spot as Gabon won 3-2 via a penalty shootout after a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time. 

Rio Cardines lines up a set piece against Gabon in their Fifa Series encounter on March 30. Photo courtesy TTFA

Having joined Palace at 16 in 2022, Cardines signed his professional contract with the London-based club in 2024. He made 20 appearances for Palace's under-21 team in the 2024/25 season, with his long-awaited first-team debut coming in October 2025 in a UEFA Conference League clash away to Dynamo Kyiv. Cardines is yet to feature in the Premier League for Palace, but did make a substitute appearance against league holders Liverpool in an EFL Cup match back in October. 

Cardines is delighted to extend his contract with Palace as he hunts for more playing time with the first team. 

"I'm proud and excited to extend my contract here. I'm looking forward to the future and hopefully getting more first-team minutes and continuing to kick on," Cardines said. 

Meanwhile, the club's academy director, Gary Issott, said Cardines has gone from strength to strength and he expects him to continue making strides beyond the current campaign. 

King: We were naive against Bolivia

Trinidad and Tobago men's football team interim coach Derek King admitted that his team was naive in their friendly clash with Bolivia on March 15, and felt three mistakes eventually cost them the game in a 3-0 loss at the Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera Stadium, Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 

TT were under the pump early in the friendly, which fell outside the Fifa international match window, with goalkeeper Jabari Brice making at least three saves before the deadlock was eventually broken in the 23rd minute with a header from Bolivia captain Luis Haquin. With the visitors facing incessant pressure in the first half, the busy Juan Godoy made it 2-0 in the 38th minute, before Fernando Nava scored the home team's third in the 51st minute. 

A bit too late: Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Jabari Brice retrieves the ball in vain after Bolivia netted the opening goal in their March 15 friendly. Photos courtesy TTFA

TT set up defensively in what resembled a 5-3-2 shape, with the centre back trio of Darnell Hospedales, Alvin Jones, and Jesse Williams having to deal with numerous crosses in the area. In midfield, the pair of Shervohnez Hamilton and captain Andre Rampersad found the going tough and struggled to connect with playmaker Joevin Jones to give TT any semblance of control. 

When his team did have the ball, King felt they weren't brave enough. 

"In the first half, we were a bit naive. In the sense that we didn't put down the football and play," King said, at the post-match presser.

"I told the guys that Bolivia at home will always be difficult, a team that's preparing to play their playoff game (to try and qualify for the World Cup). For the first 20 minutes, I told them we had to stay in the game." 

King said the first goal was a soft one to concede, but he appeared to cut his team some slack due to the inexperience of some of the players at this level. 

Trinidad and Tobago's Alvin Jones (L) and Shervohnez Hamilton try to contain Bolivia forward Juan Godoy. 

"All in all, I think the guys did well. It's a very young team we brought here. You want to win all the games, but it's a really young team. Five players made their debuts today as well. We saw some positives in the game coming from the younger players," he said. 

The five players to debut for the visitors on the day were: Brice; Elijah Cordner; Jaheim Faustin; Addae Paponette, and 18-year-old defender Adam "Toka" Pierre, who had a relatively decent showing at centre back after coming on late in the first half. Brice and Paponette both started. Paponette was a non-factor in a striking role as TT rarely got into promising positions in the final third, with Brice arguably being one of the reasons why the score wasn't more lopsided. 

The newcomers aside, it's not to say the TT starting XI was lacking experience. Brothers Alvin and Joevin Jones have over 160 caps between them, while the trio of Ross Russell Jr, Ryan Telfer, and Rampersad all have north of 20 caps for the national team. 

Trinidad and Tobago men's team interim coach Derek King gives instructions to debutant Addae Paponette (L) during the friendly against Bolivia. 

After being appointed as the team's interim coach on March 6, King said he had just three days to prepare the team for the friendly. And though the scoreline may not reflect such, he maintained that the outing wasn't an exercise in futility. 

"I think we came up against a well-prepared team. Players playing with professional clubs, especially in the Bolivian league," the interim coach said. "What you saw there were guys playing at the international level for the first time. This was a good game for us to expose the younger players and show them the physical demands of international football. 

"They did well. We have plenty to work on. As I told them, when you make a mistake, it will cost you. We made three mistakes, and they cost us the game as well." 

It remains to be seen how many players will be retained for TT's upcoming games in the Fifa Series against Venezuela and Gabon on March 27 and 30, respectively. 

Caprietta, 'Toka' hunt playing time in Bolivia

National under-20 defenders Jaydon Caprietta, 17, and Adam "Toka" Pierre, 18, are both eager to get their feet wet at the senior international level as the Trinidad and Tobago men's football team prepare for their friendly away to Bolivia on March 15. The game will be played at the Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera Stadium, Santa Cruz, with kickoff at 6.30 pm (TT time). 

TT men's under-20 defender Adam "Toka" Pierre goes through his paces during a training session with the senior team earlier this week. Photos courtesy TTFA Media

Caprietta, an adventurous left back, was one of the bright sparks in the TT under-20 team's Concacaf qualifying campaign in Costa Rica from February 24-March 4, even scoring in TT's thumping 5-1 win over Barbados. Meanwhile, Pierre was relatively solid at the back for TT, often using his recovery speed and sheer grit to out fires which threatened to break down the TT defence. Despite good individual showings from both players, TT finished third in group E behind Costa Rica and Bermuda and did not advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Championships. 

Both players are taking the lessons from their time in Alajuela, Costa Rica, and are hoping to get a chance to show their mettle in Bolivia. 

"In Bolivia, my mindset is one of focus. I don't know when I will be called upon, but I will always be ready. I expect the game to be hard. Hopefully, I can pick up a couple of minutes. But if I don't, I'd still be grateful for this opportunity," Caprietta told TT Football Association (TTFA) Media, in a video which was shared on March 13. 

TT men's under-20 left back Jaydon Caprietta reacts after scoring against Barbados in a Concacaf Under-20 qualifier last month. 

The Naparima College student, who patterns his game after Portugal and PSG left back Nuno Mendes, says representing his country at the highest level has always been a dream. 

"Since I was younger, I always wanted to be a part of this, so seeing former coach Dwight Yorke and the team almost qualifying for the World Cup, it really excited me, and I want to be part of this." 

And while he said the opportunity to play at the national senior level has come a bit sooner than he expected, Caprietta is locked in and loaded for this new chapter of his career. 

Seemingly a man of few words, Pierre does most of his talking on the football field with his no-nonsense and physical presence at the back. Already with some TT Premier Football League appearances under his belt for a few clubs, Pierre is ready for this next challenge. 

"I feel good being part of this generation for the 2030 World Cup," Pierre said. "It's good being here, and I'm looking to get some minutes. I know it's going to be difficult because there are experienced players. So I'm just going and do my part.

"When I leave Boiliva, I'll continue to develop as a young player. I'm hoping to pick up everything possible while in this camp," Pierre said. "I have some familiar players around me and some new faces. Hopefully, they can pass on the experience to me." 

Caprietta and Pierre are among eight players who have received first-time call-ups. The others are: Jaheim Faustin; Kaieem Lewis; Addae Paponette; goalie Teshorne Ragoo, and the young European-based pair of Elijah Cordner and James Lester. San Juan Jabloteh attacking midfielders Derrel Garcia and Lindell Sween are among the other bright, young prospects in the camp.

Interim coach Derek King has boasted of a good mix of youth and experience in the squad, with players such as Alvin Jones, Joevin Jones, Ross Russell Jr and the Halifax Wanderers pair of Andre Rampersad and Ryand Telfer expected to add much-needed experience to the setup.  

After playing Bolivia, TT will play Venezuela and Gabon in the Fifa Series on March 27 and 30, respectively. 

TT team to face Bolivia: 

Goalkeepers: Jabari Brice, Teshorne Ragoo, Jabari St Hillaire. 

Defenders: Alvin Jones, Jaydon Caprietta, Isaiah Garcia, Shervohnez Hamilton, Darnell Hospedales, James Lester, Adam Pierre, Ross Russell Jr, Jesse Williams. 

Midfielders: Elijah Cordner, Daniel David, Jaheim Faustin, Derrel Garcia, Joevin Jones, Andre Rampersad, Lindell Sween. 

Forwards: Kaieem Lewis, Addae Paponette, Kathon St Hillaire, Ryan Telfer. 

TTPFL golden boot race heats up

This weekend is expected to be an intriguing one in the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season, as the top four teams will be squaring off against each other. 

Holders and current leaders, Defence Force (46 points), will take on third-placed rivals Miscellaneous Police FC (36 points) from 4 pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, on March 15. Meanwhile, the second-placed Club Sando (42 points) are expected to have their hands full when they take on the fourth-placed Prisons FC (35 points) from 8 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, tomorrow (March 14). 

Tarik Lee (number 9) is the man to watch in the Club Sando attack. Photo courtesy Club Sando

While the top four teams and the fifth-placed AC Port of Spain (34 points) are still jostling for Concacaf spots, another race is brewing as the TTPFL's golden boot charge is well and truly on. The league's leading goals scorer, Joevin Jones (11 goals), is away to Bolivia on international duty with the Trinidad and Tobago men's national team. Jones' absence could leave the door open for a new player to soar to the top of the scoring charts, as the trio of Teejay Cadiz, Dominic Douglas, and Tarik Lee are all tied on ten goals. 

From 6 pm today at the Phase 2 La Horquetta recreation grounds, Douglas' Eagles team will take on AC PoS. Meanwhile, when Lee's Club Sando take on Prisons tomorrow, the nippy striker will be hoping to help his team reverse their 1-0 loss to Dexter Cyrus' Prisons outfit earlier this season. 

A look at the TT Premier Football League's top scorers heading into match 19

And in an early 2 pm kickoff in Malabar on March 15, Cadiz will be looking to inspire the ninth-placed 1976 FC Phoenix team when they take on the inconsistent Central FC Reboot, who find themselves in seventh place with 24 points. Phoenix have conceded the joint-highest number of goals this season (48), while Central will be without some key players such as Daniel David, Alvin Jones, Ross Russell Jr, and goalie Jabari Brice. All four have been called up by interim coach Derek King for TT's friendly with Bolivia on March 15. With that being said, expect goals to flow in the first game of the Malabar double-header this weekend. 

Do you have any picks for the golden boot winner? 

This is how the TTPFL top five is shaping up with just four games to go. 

Trinidad and Tobago women, El Salvador square off on April 17

The date, time, and venue have been locked in for the crucial Concacaf W Qualifier between Trinidad and Tobago's women's football team and El Salvador. The encounter is a must-win one for the TT women and will be played from 6 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on April 17. The match details were confirmed via a release from Concacaf earlier today (March 9).

Next month's match is the last for either team in the qualifying round as they aim to advance to the Concacaf W Championships. El Salvador are currently first in group F with six points after wins over Honduras (3-0) and Barbados (13-0), with TT second in the group on four points after salvaging a 2-2 draw away to Honduras last week. TT opened up the qualifiers with a resounding 5-0 win away to Barbados in December. Only the group winner will advance to the Concacaf W Championship. 

The Trinidad and Tobago women's football team celebrate a goal against Honduras in a Concacaf W Qualifier on March 4. Photo courtesy TTFA

The Concacaf W Championship is the region's qualifying tournament for the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics. The region's two highest-ranked teams, Canada and the US, received a bye to the Concacaf W Championship.   

In their match versus Honduras in Tegucigalpa on March 4, TT fell behind 2-0 midway through the first half. TT's fightback started late in the first half, as left back Kedie Johnson scored a penalty, before teenage sensation Nikita Gosine calmly scored a penalty of her own in the 87th minute to earn her team a share of the spoils.

In just over five weeks, the TT women will need all three points against El Salvador if they are to keep their World Cup dreams alive. 

The Trinidad and Tobago women's football team will face El Salvador in a crucial Concacaf W Qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on April 17. 

Derrel 'Zum' Zum' Garcia nets TTPFL hat-trick

Trinidad and Tobago men's under-20 football team captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia lit up the Phase 2 La Horquetta recreation ground with a stylish hat-trick on March 6, as his San Juan Jabloteh team crushed 1976 FC Phoenix 5-0. These were the first goals of the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season for Garcia, who scored nine goals last season en route to winning the league's Rising Star award.

Garcia opened the scoring for the sixth-placed Jabloteh in the 26th minute after being sprung on the counter by Malachi Webb, as he checked back on his right foot before curling a beautiful shot past goalkeeper Duvaughn Daniel. Just past the hour mark, Garcia got his and Jabloteh's second when he slammed a shot off the base of the post and in, after being teed up by lanky striker Dwight Jordan.

Jabloteh then put the game beyond all doubt with a quick three-goal burst in a 12-minute span, as flankers Jaheim Faustin and Andell Fraser both scored, before Zum Zum wrapped up the scoring with his hat-trick in the 74th minute. 

San Juan Jabloteh's Derrel Garcia (L) on the go during the 2024/25 TTPFL season. Photo courtesy TTPFL

Jordan, Faustin, and Fraser were all involved in the build-up, which led to Garcia's hat-trick goal, with Fraser eventually being clipped in the area by Daniel. Calm as ever, Garcia made no mistake from the spot as he rolled his penalty into the bottom corner to seal Jabloteh's five-star showing.

Jabloteh moved up to 27 points, with Phoenix (15 points) slipping to ninth on the 12-team table.

In the second game of the La Horquetta double-header, Caledonia AIA (16 points) moved up to eighth as they thumped the seventh-placed Central FC Reboot (24 points) 5-1. "Cale" took a 3-0 lead to the half after goals from Vynicius Dutra Sousa, Shaquan Nelson, and Jesse Williams, with flanker Jadiel Joseph putting the icing on the cake with a second-half brace.

The TTPFL action continues today with games at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella and at the St James Police Barracks. At 8 pm at the barracks, fifth-placed AC Port of Spain (31 points) will play third-placed Miscellaneous Police FC (36 points). 

Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia's masterclass against 1976 FC Phoenix in the TTPFL. 

D King returns as national team interim coach

Not for the first time, Derek King has been appointed interim coach of the Trinidad and Tobago men's football team. And his first mission will be to lead TT into friendly action away to Bolivia on March 15, before the senior team plays two matches in the Fifa Series late this month against Venezuela (March 27) and Gabon (March 30). 

The TT Football Association (TTFA) confirmed King's interim appointment on March 6, only a day after it said the contract of former senior team coach Dwight Yorke had been terminated via a mutual agreement on February 28. King is not short on experience with the national men's team, as he served as an assistant coach to both Yorke and his predecessor, Angus Eve. King was also an assistant to Stephen Hart, one of the country's most successful and popular coaches in the last decade. King got success of his own in 2014, when he led the TT under-20s to the Caribbean Cup title. 

Trinidad and Tobago men's football team interim coach Derek King. Photo courtesy TTFA

When the TTFA and Eve went their separate ways in July 2024, King assumed the interim role, which saw him taking charge of Concacaf Nations League matches against Honduras, French Guiana, and Cuba. King's first game as interim boss saw TT tasting a heavy 4-0 loss away to the Hondurans. 

The TTFA release said King brings extensive experience to the national programme as he spearheads the team for the three upcoming games and the foreseeable future. The TTFA said it will release further information regarding the composition of the technical staff in due course. 

The team for the Bolivia friendly is expected to be announced by March 10, with rumors suggesting that national under-20 defender Adam Pierre and the San Juan Jabloteh pair of Derrel Garcia and Jaheim Faustin are among those set to be called up. 

 

Joevin, Army lead TTPFL charts

Defence Force (45 points) may have been humbled in their Concacaf Champions Cup tie with Philadelphia Union, but they're still a cut above the rest on the local circuit at present, boasting a six-point lead in the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) standings after 17 matches. 

With five games left in the league season, Defence Force are still unbeaten and are threatening to go undefeated for back-to-back league seasons. After being shown a red card in Defence Force's 5-0 first-leg loss to Philadelphia on Ash Wednesday, 34-year-old playmaker Joevin Jones got back down to business on March 4, scoring a brace as his team defeated Tobago's 1976 FC Phoenix 4-1 in a midweek TTPFL game. In the process, Jones moved to the top of the TTPFL scoring charts with 11 goals, just one ahead of Phoenix forward Teejay Cadiz. 

Having scored four league goals earlier this season for Miscellaneous Police FC before making the move to the Army/Coast Guard combination, Jones will be eager to add to his tally, as Defence Force are scheduled to face the cellar-placed Point Fortin Civic on March 7. 

Defence Force midfielder Joevin Jones (right) takes on a Philadelphia Union player during their Concacaf Champions Cup round one tie on February 18. Photo courtesy Concacaf/Daniel Prentice

From 6 pm at the Phase 2 La Horquetta recreation ground on March 6, the sixth-placed San Juan Jabloteh (24 points) will play the eighth-placed Phoenix (15 points), with the seventh-placed MIC Central FC Reboot (24 points) taking on the ninth-placed Caledonia AIA (13 points) in the second game of the double-header. 

At the St James Police Barracks on March 7, the tenth-placed Eagles (13 points) will tackle the fourth-placed Prisons FC (32 points) in the first match, with the fifth-placed AC Port of Spain (31 points) then facing the third-placed Police (36 points) in a tasty clash. 

At the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on March 7, the second-placed Club Sando (39 points) will look to make their mark before Defence Force take centre stage when they go head-to-head with the 11th-placed Terminix La Horquetta Rangers (12 points). 

Top scorers in the TTPFL 2025/26 season after 17 matches. 

A look at the TTPFL top five in the 2025/26 season after 17 matches. 

TTFA, Yorke say 'mutual' goodbyes

The TT Football Association (TTFA) has parted ways with men's football team coach Dwight Yorke just ten days before an international friendly with Bolivia, claiming the coach's contract was "terminated by mutual agreement" on February 28. 

After media reports earlier today suggested that Yorke had stepped down from the post, the TTFA issued a release which said both parties had agreed to go their separate ways after failing to find a common ground to take the men's football programme forward. 

"Following the conclusion of the recent Fifa World Cup qualification campaign in which TT failed to advance to the 2026 World Cup, the executive committee conducted a comprehensive review of the campaign and the overall direction of the men's senior national team programme, inclusive of its technical structure and financial framework," the March 5 release said. 

The release said discussions were held with Yorke regarding revised contractual terms and remuneration geared towards the next phase of the setup. However, "after these discussions," the release read, "both parties were unable to reach an agreement on the proposed terms at this time, and it was mutually decided to part ways." 

Former Trinidad and Tobago men's football team captain and coach, Dwight Yorke. Photo courtesy TTFA

Yorke was officially appointed TT men's coach on November 1, 2024, and was given a clear mandate to qualify for this year's World Cup. TT finished third in group B of Concacaf's final qualifying round behind Curacao and favourites Jamaica, thus missing out on a spot in the World Cup and the intercontinental playoffs as well. 

When Yorke's predecessor, Angus Eve, was relieved of his duties as men's team coach in July 2024, Derek King was appointed on an interim basis, spearheading the team for a handful of matches in the Concacaf Nations League. With TTFA president Kieron Edwards and his board having little time to appoint a new coach before the March 15 Bolivia friendly and subsequent Fifa Series matches against Venezuela (March 27) and Gabon (March 30) in Uzbekistan, King is being tipped to take over the team in the interim once again. It's worth noting that the Bolivia friendly falls outside the March 23-31 Fifa window. 

The TTFA thanked Yorke for his commitment and service during his tenure, and insisted the door is not closed to future dialogue between the two parties. It said it remains committed to strengthening the men's team programme and "will continue to act in the best interests of TT football."  

Trinidad and Tobago grab late draw with Honduras

Trinidad and Tobago's women's football team stayed alive in their quest to advance to the Concacaf W Championships, as they fought back to get a 2-2 draw against Honduras in a qualifier on March 4. 

TT were stunned early on in the Concacaf W Qualifier in Tegucigalpa, as a stylish brace from striker Allyson Reed gave Honduras a 2-0 lead by the 21st minute. With TT enjoying as much as 72 per cent possession in the first half, along with nine shots, they got a way back into the contest in the 41st minute when French-based defender Kedie Johnson calmly dispatched a penalty. Honduras defender Izabella Hernandez was adjudged to have handled in the area, with TT head coach Damian Briggs and assistant Densill Theobald alerting the referee and fourth official to the infringement. 

Trinidad and Tobago women's team forward Nikita Gosine (left) during a Concacaf W Qualifier away to Barbados in December 2025. Photo courtesy TTFA

TT lost their momentum in the second half, with Honduras comfortably sitting on their one-goal cushion. Still, Honduras' goalie Madeline Nieto was called upon to make a fine save in the 73rd minute to stop a fierce drive from outside the area. With TT running out of time, Pleasantville Secondary standout Nikita Gosine clawed her team on level terms when she expertly converted an 87th-minute penalty after being fouled in the area by Yensi Ferrera. 

TT did face some nervy moments late on as the hosts won a few set pieces, but they held on to earn the draw, which took them to four points in group F of the qualifiers. 

On April 18, TT will host group leaders El Salvador (six points) with a spot in the Concacaf W Championships on the line. Only a win in that match will see TT moving to the next round, which kicks off in November. 

The final score in the Concacaf W Qualifier between Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago on March 4. 

'Los Ticos' beat Trinidad and Tobago to Concacaf U-20 spot

The objective for Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 team was clear, but executing it proved much tougher, as they were whipped 3-0 by Costa Rica in Alajuela on March 4, in their Concacaf Under-20 qualifier. The win saw Costa Rica finishing atop group E with ten points and will see them move on to the Concacaf Under-20 Men's Championships, with TT missing out on the sole qualifying spot as they eventually finished the group in third on seven points. Bermuda, which drew with both Costa Rica and TT, placed second with eight points. 

Needing a victory to leapfrog Costa Rica in the group and progress to the Concacaf Championships, coach Marvin Gordon's team never established a rhythm in the attacking third to pose enough of a threat to Costa Rican goalkeeper Ian Orourke. It could be argued that the hosts weren't particularly spectacular in the final third either, but they weren't the team in a must-win situation and needing to press the issue. Still, Costa Rica were clinical when they needed to be, and got the better of the TT defence three times through dead-ball situations. 

Trinidad and Tobago under-20 men's football team line up for their Concacaf qualifier against Costa Rica in Alajuela, on March 4. Photo courtesy TTFA 

After a needless foul outside the area from TT playmaker Dominic Joseph, Costa Rica's lanky forward Dax Palmer drilled a left-footer into the bottom corner in the 21st minute after Yamil Leal worked a short free kick to him. At the other end, TT struggled to pass through the press of the young "Los Ticos" team, and instead opted for long diagonal punts from centre backs Jeremy Meloney and Adam Pierre. The long ball tactic scarcely worked in TT's favour, with Costa Rica's captain, the 6'7" Matias Cordero, having a relatively comfortable day leading his troops from the back. 

With little momentum in their attacking play, Gordon would have been expected to turn to his bench much sooner than he did. TT's first change came in the 62nd minute, as Chaz Williams came in for Joseph, with striker Josiah Kallicharan entering the game for Phillip Nelson in the 69th minute. Kallicharan's first involvement saw him linking up with captain Derrel Garcia, who shot into the side-netting from a tight angle. 

TT's task became near-impossible in the 73rd minute, as striker David Garro sent a beautiful volley past goalkeeper Bryan Gafiuk after connecting with a right-side corner. Desperate to influence the game higher up the field, Pierre was found out of position as a TT play broke down. As he retreated towards his penalty area, Pierre was deemed to have fouled Gabriel Sibaja, with Yerlan Sosa making no mistake from the spot as his 81st-minute penalty assured Los Ticos all three points. 

Gordon may point to the heart and grit of his players, but it's another disappointing end to a qualifying campaign for one of TT's national youth teams. 

TT's starting line-up and formation for their Concacaf Under-20 Men's qualifier versus Costa Rica on March 4. 

Trinidad and Tobago women aim to peak in Honduras

Head coach Damian Briggs is hoping the Trinidad and Tobago women's football team can peak at the right time when they take on Honduras in their Concacaf W Qualifier in Tegucigalpa from 9 pm (TT time) on March 4. 

This is TT's second game in group F of the qualifiers, as they hammered Barbados 5-0 in Kensington in December. Also in December, Honduras fell to a 3-0 loss to group leaders El Salvador. On March 1, El Salvador made their intentions crystal clear when they drubbed Barbados 13-0 to move to the group summit on six points. On April 18, TT will host El Salvador, but before that, the girls from the land of soca and steelpan must deal with the challenge of Honduras on the road. 

"We're not trying to peak too early – we want to peak at the right time."

TT women's football team lineup for kickoff against Barbados in a Concacaf W Qualifier. Photos courtesy TTFA 

Late last month, the TT team had a six-day training camp in Panama, and Briggs believes that camp and the time spent in Honduras thus far have put the squad in a good space ahead of tonight's matchup. 

"We feel like we're on track for what we want to achieve. We're getting accustomed to the conditions, the weather, and the climate," Briggs told TT Football Association (TTFA) Media. 

"We're getting accustomed to the culture as well...the preparations have gone well. The players are quite positive. They have taken the messaging on board and what we want to do and how we want to play. It's all going quite well so far." 

Briggs said the senior players in the 23-player squad have been taking the younger players under their wings, and he's eager to see them put that to good effect on the field of play. 

"At this moment, we think we're on track for where we want to be. We're not trying to peak too early – we want to peak at the right time," Briggs said.

TT women's football team coach Damian Briggs and star attacker Alexcia Ali. 

"Now, being here in Honduras again, with some of the work we've done. We hope, with everything we have done so far, that everything comes together on the evening of March 4. We hope it could culminate in the result we want to get." 

The TT squad features senior players such as Kennya Cordner, Liana Hinds, and the French-based Kedie Johnson, as well as young starlets Alexcia Ali, Kaitlyn Darwent, goalkeeper Simone Eligon and 2025 Women's Player of the Year Nikita Gosine. 

"The mood in itself is buzzing. It's an exciting time and a time where all the players believe in what we've come here to do and they believe we can get the desired result." 

Only the group winner will advance to the eight-team Concacaf W Championship in November, heightening the importance of TT's clash with Honduras. The W Championship will serve as the region's qualifier for next year's Fifa Women's World Cup. Four teams will progress automatically to the World Cup, with two other teams moving on to an intercontinental playoff. The top two teams at the W Championship will also progress to the LA 2028 Olympics. 

TT women's team for Honduras match: 

Goalkeepers: Malaika Dedier, Simone Eligon, Akyla Walcott.  

Defenders: Kaitlyn Darwent, Kedie Johnson, Javanah Moreno, Emma Schneider, Myla Schneider, Victoria Swift, Christa Waterman, Cicely Spencer Wickham.  

Midfielders: Arianna Borneo, Ty'Kaiya Dennis, Elise Franco, Natalia Gosine, Nikita Gosine, Liana Hinds, Chrissy Mitchell, Lorall Romain. 

Forwards: Alexcia Ali, Kennya Cordner, Aaliyah Prince, Gabrielle Williams. 

Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago all square for mega U-20 showdown

Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago's men's under-20 football teams will go head-to-head for a place in the Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship when they meet from 4 pm (TT time) in Alajuela on March 4. 

On March 2, the teams had contrasting results: TT spanked table-dwellers Sint Maarten 4-0, while Costa Rica played to an enthralling 3-3 draw with feisty Bermuda. The day's results mean that both Costa Rica and TT head group E with seven points apiece, with the former team leading the group with a +15 goal differential. TT have a +8 goal differential. Bermuda (five points) are third in the group, but came ever so close to edging "Los Ticos" in their six-goal thriller at the Costa Rican Federation Field. 

Having already missed a penalty in the contest, Bermuda took a surprise 2-1 lead over Costa Rica when Xahvi Deroza notched his second goal of the game on the hour mark. The Costa Ricans got on level terms in the 71st minute, only for Bermuda to dramatically retake the lead in the 77th minute through a wonderful free kick from striker Jace Donawa, who also netted in his team's 2-2 draw with TT on February 24. 

Trinidad and Tobago men's under-20 midfielder Josiah Ochoa (C) tries to take the ball off his Bajan counterpart in a Concacaf qualifier in Costa Rica on February 26. Photo courtesy TTFA

The late drama wasn't done there, as Bermuda goalie Daniel Powell needlessly gave up a penalty in the 80th minute when he tried to dribble his way out of trouble in the area. Powell did make amends, though, diving to his left to save a right-footed penalty from David Garro. Still, there was no end to the chaos in the Bermuda area, as Andres Morera tapped in from close range from the subsequent corner after a Dax Palmer header rebounded off the bar. 

Powell was unable to carry on as he was labouring with a leg injury, and his replacement, David Martin, came up big in the dying moments when he saved a close-range shot from Garro in the fifth minute of stoppage-time. 

The 3-3 draw between Bermuda and Costa Rica now gives coach Marvin Gordon and his TT team a clear mandate for their meeting in a couple of days: defeat Los Ticos and advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Championships, which will be played from July-August. A draw will likely see Costa Rica moving on to the championships, as Bermuda would need to beat Barbados by 13 goals in their March 4 clash to leapfrog Costa Rica and TT and top the group. 

Screengrab of the Concacaf Men's Under-20 qualifying group, which features TT. 

In the first game of the double-header, TT breezed to three points against Sint Maarten, as goals from Giovanni Hospedales, Dominic Joseph, Josiah Kallicharan and Chaz Williams gave them a facile win. It was Joseph's third goal in as many games, with Swansea Youth Academy's Kallicharan scoring for the second straight game. 

A third straight win will see TT dancing into the final round. 

Army fall to 12-0 aggregate loss in Champions Cup

Defence Force may be the only unbeaten team remaining in the 2025/26 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season, but they were exposed to a different level in the Concacaf Champions Cup, falling to a 12-0 aggregate loss to Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park in Pennsylvania on February 26. 

The Army/Coast Guard combination was no match for the Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit, as a 5-0 first-leg loss at the Hasely Crawford Stadium last week was followed by a 7-0 thumping away from home. With no realistic chance of overturning the deficit in the round-one tie, coach Devorn Jorsling was without two of his most experienced players, as Joevin Jones served a suspension, while captain Kevin Molino didn't make the trip. 

Philadelphia Union line up for the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup clash with Defence Force. Photos courtesy Philadelphia Union's Facebook page 

Sixteen-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan was the star of the show for Philadelphia, as he scored a brace late on and also set up a couple of goals. Giant striker Stas Korzeniowski also bagged a brace as the MLS club ran a riot in their home opener for the 2026 season. 

Amazingly, the Army had no shots in the game, and their brightest moment arguably came in the fifth minute when flanker Christian Bailey was played in over the top. Bailey delayed when through on goal, though, and his chance quickly disappeared. By the 12th minute, Defence Force's nightmare in the Champions Cup continued, as they were 3-0 down in the blink of an eye. 

Geiner Martinez opened the scoring in the seventh minute after a set piece, Jovan Lukic converted from the penalty spot in the tenth minute after a rash challenge from Shirwin Noel, while Korzeniowski finished off a flowing right-side move two minutes later. 

Jorsling and his charges will struggle to find positives from the two-legged affair, and stand-in captain Jelani Felix said the tie shows the team needs to get stronger and fitter, and improve their concentration at this level. 

While Philadelphia were in a class of their own, Defence Force's demise was also some of their own doing, evidenced by the home team's fourth goal, which came after Noel tried to chess-trap a cross in his own area in the 48th minute. The score swelled to 5-0 by the 53rd minute, with Sullivan adding gloss to the scoreline with his double which came in the 76th and 88th minutes. 

All smiles: Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan

Philadelphia will now contest Club America in the Champions Cup Round of 16, with the Army returning to a kinder schedule when they face 1976 FC Phoenix in a TTPFL clash on March 4. 

Defence Force starting XI: Isaiah Williams (GK); Isaiah Garcia, Russel Francois, Shirwin Noel, Jelani Fleix; Rivaldo Coryat, Joshua Araujo-Wilson; Christian Bailey, Adriel George, Tyrese Bailey; Kathon St Hillaire.