Panama and Bolivia have been added as two high profile opponents which Trinidad and Tobago’s senior men’s national football team will play in friendly international warm-up matches, prior to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying in November.
Four days after playing their opener away, T&T will host the United States in Port of Spain for their second World Cup qualifier on November 17. But before qualifying begins, the Soca Warriors renew rivalry with Mexico (September 3) and Panama (October 8.), two of the teams they recently met at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Trinidad and Tobago and eventual champions Mexico played out an exciting 4-4 group stage draw-- rated the best match in the competition’s history. T&T also drew 1-1 with Panama after 120 minutes play at the quarter-final stage, before going out 6-5 on penalties.
Yesterday, national team manager Williams Wallace confirmed the match against Panama, which will be held in Panama City, while efforts are being made to play another against Bolivia, though they are scheduled to meet Uruguay in World Cup qualifying on October 4.
“We are supposed to play Panama on October 8 in Panama,” Wallace confirmed. “We’re still fine-tuning (for) a game with Bolivia for the other FIFA date in September (8th). But that is still to be worked out.”
Panama open World Cup qualifying away to the winner of a third round September 2015 qualifying series between either Gold Cup beaten-finalist Jamaica or Central America minnows Nicaragua.
Anticipating a Jamaica win, Panama lined up a friendly against another Caribbean team, T&T on October 8 in Port of Spain. Panama will also face Uruguay and Venezuela prior to taking on the second-ranked Caribbean team.
Efforts to contact Warriors head-coach Stephen Hart was unsuccessful, as he is on vacation in Canada.