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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Derek King has left little to chance, as he summoned a mammoth 28-man squad for a two-match window.
The Soca Warriors face Antigua and Barbuda in a two-legged Concacaf Gold Cup Play-In, which sees the two nations clash in Antigua on 12 November and then in Port of Spain on 16 November.
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If Trinidad and Tobago are victorious, Kings troops will likely face either Suriname or Curaçao in the Gold Cup Prelim—as they try to force their way into the group stage of the confederation’s showcase tournament.
King is without suspended midfielder Daniel Phillips, while left back Andrew De Gannes, attacker Reon Moore and goalkeeper Jabari Brice were also not retained from his team that competed, unsuccessfully, in the 2026 Concacaf Nations League.
Beyond that quartet, though, the Warriors head coach added seven players to his squad who did not feature in their Nations League campaign.
Forward Nathaniel James, who represents North Texas SC in the United States third tier competition, missed the Nations League due to injury but is available once more—and selected.
Copyright: Thomas Shea/ Imagn Images.
Inter Toronto FC midfielder Steffen Yeates also accepted an international call-up for the first time under King, having last represented Trinidad and Tobago during the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.
Defence Force attackers Kathon St Hillaire and Nicholas Dillon, Kosovo-based midfielder Ali Kazim Nakhid, and Club Sando FC left back Andre Raymond are also in the squad for the Play-In.
“These are two very important matches for Trinidad and Tobago as we continue our quest to qualify for the Concacaf Gold Cup,” King told TTFA Media, “[…] and we understand the significance of both fixtures.
“Our focus is on preparing the team to be competitive, disciplined and fully committed in both games. We want to approach these matches with confidence, a positive mindset and a strong belief in our ability to achieve our objective.”
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Trinidad and Tobago are yet to win a match under King’s current spell, with one draw, seven defeats, and one penalty shoot-out loss. He desperately needs to end that run in this match window.
Antigua and Barbuda are ranked 162nd in the world by Fifa—a whopping 57 places lower than the Warriors.
Thus far, the lowest ranked team that King’s troops faced are the 135th placed Dominican Republic, who edged Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on 27 September 2026.
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Trinidad and Tobago will start their two-legged contest in Antigua without captain Levi Garcia, although there is a possibility that the Greece-based forward will feature for the second leg in Port of Spain.
No reason was given for Garcia’s absence, although the player’s employers, Panathinaikos, were incensed with King’s handling of their player during the Nations League.
Garcia, wearing a knee brace, lasted just 14 minutes of Trinidad and Tobago’s third Nations League fixture against Curaçao before being substituted on 1 October 2026.
(via TTFA Media.)
Panathinaikos coach Jacob Neestrup subsequently criticised King’s supposedly “irresponsible” use of the attacker.
Neestrup was not the only club coach unhappy about how their player was used, as England second tier team, Bristol City, also recalled injured full back Rio Cardines before the end of the Nations League.
Cardines is back with the national team for this match window, though, and King suggested that Garcia could possibly play as well.
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“We are still monitoring the situation with Levi,” King explained. “He is not available for the first match, but there remains a possibility that he can join us for the second leg.
“We will continue communicating with him and his club and make the appropriate decision.”
Already demoted to Concacaf Nations League B, King urged his players not to let the chance to compete at the 2027 Gold Cup pass them by.
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“The players must be prepared to give everything on the field, execute our game plan and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way,” said King. “We also understand the importance of representing our country and making our supporters proud.
“We are looking forward to the challenge. With the right preparation, determination and unity, we believe we can put ourselves in a strong position to achieve our goal of qualifying for the Gold Cup.”
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(Trinidad and Tobago team)
Goalkeepers: Teshorne Ragoo (Club Sando FC), Denzil Smith (AV Alta—USA), Jahiem Wickham (Charlotte FC—USA),
Defenders: Rio Cardines (Bristol City—England), Justin Garcia (Defence Force), Neveal Hackshaw (Oakland Roots SC—USA), Shervohnez Hamilton (Club Sando FC), Kobi Henry (Real Salt Lake—USA), Jaheim Joseph (Club Sando FC), Déron Payne (FC Volendham—Netherlands), Noah Powder (Westchester SC—USA), Andre Raymond (Club Sando FC), Kaihim Thomas (Defence Force),
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Midfielders: Daniel David (Club Sando FC), Wayne Frederick II (Colorado Rapids—USA), Dantaye Gilbert (FC Banik Ostrava—Czech Republic), Molik Khan (Vanspor FK—Turkey), Ali Kazim Nakhid (FC Ferizaj—Kosovo), Luke Phillip (Club Sando FC), Michel Poon-Angeron (Portland Heart of Pine—USA), Andre Rampersad (Halifax Wanderers—Canada), Steffen Yeates (Inter Toronto FC—Canada),
Attackers: Nicholas Dillon (Defence Force), Levi Garcia (Panathinaikos FC—Greece), Real Gill (One Knoxville SC—USA), Nathaniel James (North Texas SC—USA), Kathon St Hillaire (Defence Force), Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers—Canada).
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