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The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team will be without key forward Levi Garcia for their opening 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup fixture against the United States at PayPal Park in California tomorrow.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) revealed last night Garcia, who plays professionally for Spartak Moscow in Russia, has important personal business to attend to this weekend.
He is getting married.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“Levi Garcia will miss our Gold Cup opener vs USA as he ties the knot with his fiancée in Trinidad on Sunday,” stated the TTFA Media. “We wish him and his bride a lifetime of happiness.
“Levi will rejoin the team ahead of our second match against Haiti.”
The Soca Warriors face the United States (15 June), Haiti (19 June) and Saudi Arabia (22 June) in Group D of the Gold Cup, with the top two nations advancing to the knockout stage.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Coach Dwight Yorke is expected to choose one from Nathaniel James and Isaiah Lee (who missed the last two World Cup qualifiers through injury) as Garcia’s replacement.
Lee has three goals from four appearances under Yorke—all scored against Cuba. And James, who has three substitute appearances and one start so far under the current head coach, has two goals (against Cuba and Saint Kitts and Nevis) and two assists to show for it.
Yorke described Sunday’s outing against the United States as a stern challenge for the Soca Warriors, who are yet to take a major scalp—after friendly losses to Saudi Arabia, Jamaica and Ghana and a narrow World Cup qualifying defeat to Costa Rica.
“We haven’t been able to progress from the group stage for quite some time,” Yorke told the TTFA Media. “We want to try and do that… [And] America presents the biggest test.”
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Trinidad and Tobago have qualified for the Gold Cup quarterfinal round on three occasions: 2000 (under coach Bertille St Clair), 2003 and 2005 (both under coach Stephen Hart).
Yorke said the players have discussed their 2026 World Cup qualifying group, which pits the Warriors against Jamaica, Curaçao and Bermuda. He said he is excited that a Caribbean team will definitely be at the next World Cup and expressed respect for their three regional opponents.
“It is a great group for us—it is a very exciting group to be in,” said Yorke. “[…] Whoever has to qualify has to be at their best. It is a group you cannot take lightly.”
Photo: TTFA Media.
For now, Yorke insisted that the Soca Warriors are “focused on the Gold Cup”.
However, it is an adventure that they will start without their most gifted attacker.
(Trinidad and Tobago team to face USA)
Goalkeepers: Marvin Phillip, Denzil Smith, Jabari St Hillaire;
Defenders: Sheldon Bateau, Isaiah Garcia, Justin Garcia, Darnell Hospedales, Alvin Jones, Andre Raymond;
(Back row, from left) Darnell Hospedales, Justin Garcia, Isaiah Leacock, Joevin Jones and Sheldon Bateau.
(Front row, from left) Isaiah Garcia, Steffen Yeates and Kevin Molino.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Midfielders: Ajani Fortune, Wayne Frederick II, Joevin Jones, Kevin Molino, Daniel Phillips, Noah Powder, Andre Rampersad, Kaihim Thomas, Steffen Yeates;
Attackers: Rio Cardines, Real Gill, Nathaniel James, Isaiah Leacock, Isaiah Lee, Dante Sealy, Tyrese Spicer.
Unavailable: Levi Garcia.
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