TTFA announces surprise friendly against US second tier club, Louisville City; King welcomes ‘test’

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) today announced a surprise international friendly for its Men’s National Senior Team with United States second tier football team, Louisville City FC, at the Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky from 8pm on Saturday 25 July.

The fixture will take place during a gap in the calendar for Louisville City, who compete in the USL Championship and are in a strong place to advance to their playoff tournament.

Trinidad and Tobago attacker Reon Moore (centre) tries to hold off Russia defender Ilya Vakhaniya (left) and flanker Nikita Krivtsov during friendly international action in Kaliningrad on 9 June 2026.
Russia won 3-0.
(via TTFA Media.)

It is not immediately evident what benefit the game would serve for the Soca Warriors. The game is not in a Fifa match window so clubs are not obliged to release players to take part, while there has been a steady decline of overseas-based players willing to join the team—even within official international match days.

And since the TTPFL Tier One is likely to be in pre-season, national coach Derek King is unlikely to have match-fit local-based players for the affair either.

However, King told the TTFA Media that he “welcomes” the game.

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Derek Coach gets off the bus in Uzkebistan during the 2026 Fifa Series.
(via TTFA Media.)

“We welcome every opportunity to test ourselves against solid opposition as we continue building this team,” said King. “Matches like these allow us to expose our players to different styles of play, strengthen our chemistry and continue our preparations for the challenges ahead.

“We are looking forward to this and would like to thank Louisville for hosting us.”

Louisville City president James O’Connor said they are happy to bring his club’s supporters a taste of “the international game”.

“With the 2026 Fifa World Cup being partially hosted in the United States, American sports fans will be fully immersed in international soccer this summer,” said O’Connor. “We’re thrilled to bring Louisville City fans a taste of the international game with this historic friendly between our club and the Trinidad and Tobago national team.”

At present, Trinidad and Tobago are on an eight-game winless streak, which dates back to a 1-1 draw away to Curaçao on 14 October 2025, during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Denzil Smith (left) fends away a Russia attack during friendly international action in Kaliningrad on 9 June 2026.
(via TTFA Media.)

Trinidad and Tobago’s longest ever run without a win was 14 games, which occurred under coach Dennis Lawrence between 18 October 2018 and 14 October 2019.

Lawrence eventually snapped his historic run with a hastily arranged game against Anguilla, which Trinidad and Tobago won by a record 15-0 margin. It turned out to be his last win as national coach, as the Warriors lost their next two matches against Ecuador and Honduras and he was sacked.

Next month’s outing against Louisville City will not impact on the Soca Warriors’ current form sheet, since they are not a national team.

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