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Midfielder Ajani ‘Jay’ Fortune will miss the remainder of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign as well as the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, due to an injury suffered against Saudi Arabia in the final Concacaf Gold Cup Group D stage game on 22 June.
Fortune, 22, came on as a second half substitute for team captain Kevin Molino, as the Soca Warriors searched for a game winner against the Arab guest nation. However, he lasted just 13 minutes before an accidental collision off the ball left him with a fracture on his left foot.
(via TTFA Media.)
Fortune was replaced by veteran Joevin Jones for the remainder of the match.
Atlanta United confirmed that the talented attacking midfielder will require surgery and “is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 MLS season”.
Fortune has made two starts and three substitute appearances—excluding his cameo against Saudi Arabia, when he was subbed as a sub—under Yorke with one goal against Saint Kitts and Nevis to show for it. His item came in a 6-2 World Cup qualifying win at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 6 June 2025.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
His career stats for Trinidad and Tobago are eight starts, five substitute appearances and two goals, with his maiden goal also coming against Saint Kitts and Nevis in the 2023 Gold Cup.
Fortune made his debut as an 18-year-old under Terry Fenwick in a 7-0 friendly loss to USA on 31 January 2021 and did not feature again for the Englishman.
However, under Fenwick’s successor, Angus Eve, he showed the technical quality and fizz that saw him break into the MLS team and became a regular fixture in the national side.
Notably, Fortune has been an unused substitute only once under Yorke—in the Warriors’ 1-1 Gold Cup draw against Haiti on 19 June 2025.
The TTFA Media confirmed that Fortune’s “energy, focus and commitment” will be missed in Trinidad and Tobago 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, with versatile midfielder Dantaye Gilbert presumably leading a queue to replace him—which also includes playmaker Duane Muckette and teenager Lindell Sween.
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