Senior Men’s Team Head Coach Dwight Yorke closed his first training camp on Monday at the Larry Gomes Stadium with a match against local outfit Defence Force. The match ended with a 1-0 result in favour of the national team through a Kaheim Thomas free kick in the final third of the encounter.
Yorke described the encounter as a useful exercise and also spoke about T&T’s draw to face Cuba in a home and away Gold Cup qualifying tie in March. T&T will host the second match of the tie due to being seeded higher than Cuba. Concacaf will announce the match dates in due course.
“Our recent training camp was an excellent opportunity to bring the squad together and really take a closer look at what we have at our disposal,” Yorke told TTFA Media.
“These camps are essential for assessing the squad, understanding team dynamics, and shaping our approach as we move forward. Of course it’s still off season now locally. The game against Defence Force was valuable in more ways than one, as it provided us with the kind of exercise that we need to build the team and see everyone in a game situation. I want to say thanks to the Defence Force for making the effort to give us the game.
“Beyond the immediate work with the national team, I’m very much looking forward to engaging with the local clubs. Building a solid working relationship with them is crucial for the overall development of our squad which has a part to play in the success of the national program. I believe that by working hand-in-hand with the clubs, we can establish a pathway that benefits both the players and the national team, ensuring that we’re tapping into the full potential of local talent.
“As for the Gold Cup qualifiers, preparation is already underway. Now the opponent for the Gold Cup qualifier has been identified and my staff and I will be doing everything to ensure that we are fully prepared to face these two opponents who will challenge us in both the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers.
“These are critical matches for us, and we’re leaving no stone unturned in making sure we are ready. The work has only just begun, but I’m confident that with the effort and focus we’re putting in, we’ll be ready to meet these challenges head-on,” Yorke said.
Miami, FL – Following the conclusion of November’s Concacaf Nations League matches, Concacaf has confirmed the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims participating national teams and matchups. The Prelims will be played during the FIFA Match Window of March 2025 and consist of seven home-and-away matchups.
To determine the Prelims matchups, Concacaf has ranked the participating national teams 1-14 based on the Concacaf Rankings, with the highest-ranked national team facing the lowest-ranked national team (1 vs 14).
2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims Rankings
*As of November 20, 2024
(1) Costa Rica
(2) Jamaica
(3) Honduras
(4) Guatemala
(5) Trinidad and Tobago
(6) Martinique
(7) Nicaragua
(8.) Guadeloupe
(9) Suriname
(10) Cuba
(11) Guyana
(12) Bermuda
(13) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
(14) Belize
The seven matchups are as follows:
(1) Costa Rica vs Belize (14)
(2) Jamaica vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (13)
(3) Honduras vs Bermuda (12)
(4) Guatemala vs Guyana (11)
(5) Trinidad and Tobago vs Cuba (10)
(6) Martinique vs Suriname (9)
(7) Nicaragua vs Guadeloupe (8.)
After home-and-away play, the winner in each matchup will qualify for the Group Stage of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. The Prelims schedule will be announced at a later date.