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The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team remain 103rd in the world and 11th in Concacaf for the sixth straight cycle, according to the latest Fifa ranking today.
The Fifa ranking is based on results in full international matches, while a weighting system designates different marks depending on if the results came in friendly or competitive games and according to the strength of the opposition.
(Courtesy Concacaf)
The Soca Warriors tallied one regulation time win, one triumph via kicks from the penalty spot (which Fifa records as a draw), two regulation time draws and one defeat under current interim head coach Angus Eve at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.
It was not enough to shift the needle for the senior men, who remain behind fellow Concacaf nations Mexico (9), USA (10), Costa Rica (44), Jamaica (50), Canada (59), Honduras (63), El Salvador (64), Panama (74), Curaçao (78), and Haiti (90) in the Fifa rankings.
Trinidad and Tobago have been 103rd in the world since 26 November 2020, when they climbed two spots from 105th despite being inactive at the time. They have not been higher in Concacaf since 14 June 2019, when they were 10th in the confederation—nine Fifa places above Haiti.
A disastrous 2019 Gold Cup changed that, as the Warriors, guided by then head coach Dennis Lawrence finished bottom of a group that included USA, Panama and Guyana and plummeted below 100 in the global rankings.
(via TTFA Media)
The Soca Warriors were 49th in the world and fourth in Concacaf on 3 December 2015, under the stewardship of then head coach Stephen Hart, when David John-Williams replaced Raymond Tim Kee as Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president.
At present, Belgium is first in the world followed by Brazil, France, England, Italy and Argentina. Italy are the current European champions while Argentina are South America champs.
The highest ranked African nation is Senegal, who are 21st.
Trinidad and Tobago’s next international match window runs from 30 August to 8 September, during which time the Soca Warriors can play two friendly matches. However, Eve’s contract expires on 31 August and the Fifa-appointed normalisation committee, headed by Robert Hadad, is yet to start the tendering process to select a full-time coach.
Eve will be invited to apply to keep his job when the local football body begins its head-hunting.
(via TTFA Media)
Hadad has not revealed whether the Warriors will play in the upcoming match window. Trinidad and Tobago’s last friendly match was a 7-0 defeat by USA on 31 January 2021 under former head coach Terry Fenwick.
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The 48-team 2026 World Cup will be hosted by USA, Mexico & Canada and there will at least six places available to Concacaf teams. I wonder if the Fifa Normalisation Committee intends to remain in charge for TTFA 2026 preparations or will they give an elected executive enough time to have a chance at qualification?