Coach Yorke calls for belief in Soca Warriors
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — As the Trinidad and Tobago national football team prepares for a demanding slate of matches, including the Unity Cup, crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, Head Coach Dwight Yorke is urging fans to remain patient and keep faith in his squad.
The Soca Warriors’ first challenge comes at the Unity Cup, held at Brentford FC’s Gtech Community Stadium in West London May 27-31.
They are slated to open the tournament against Caribbean rivals Jamaica on May 27, while African powerhouses Ghana and Nigeria face off the following day. The winners advance to the final on May 31, with the losers battling for third place.
Next up are two pivotal World Cup qualifiers, a home clash against St Kitts and Nevis on June 6 at Hasely Crawford Stadium, followed by an away trip to Costa Rica on June 10.
Currently sitting second in their group with four points, two behind leaders Costa Rica, Yorke’s men must secure strong results to stay on track for a spot in the final qualifying round.
“We’re excited for the Unity Cup, but qualifying for the Gold Cup was a major achievement,” Yorke said in a TTFA media release on May 4. However, our immediate focus is the World Cup qualifiers, these are serious games for us.”
Yorke expressed confidence in his current squad, despite the lack of star power like some of the other more fancied regional outfits.
“I have a good feeling about this team. We can bring T&T football back to the top, but we need support. There will be challenges, but trust in me and the players to deliver.”
After the qualifiers, T&T will compete in the Gold Cup June 14 to July 6, having earned their place with a dominant 6-1 aggregate play-off win over Cuba.
They face a tough Group D, featuring Haiti, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, who thrashed them 0-6 in the 2023 edition.
With a gruelling schedule ahead, Yorke emphasised the importance of managing player fitness.
“We have four games in 12 days, including travel, so we must be smart. While we respect all competitions, the World Cup qualifier against St Kitts is our top priority.”
