Trinidad and Tobago Under-20s face Haiti at Concacaf Champs

Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 men’s footballers will begin their quest for qualification to the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Men’s World Cup when they come up against Haiti in the first game of a Concacaf Champs double header at the Estadio Morazan in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, from 6 pm TT time, on Sunday.

Fellow Group F teams Mexico and Suriname will meet in the second game of the double header.

TT head coach Angus Eve conducted his final session with the 20-man squad on Saturday at the Real Espana ground after training the previous day at the Rancho Tarra training pitch.

TT had their official walk-through at the Morazan Stadium on Saturday morning as all four teams are not permitted to train on the surface before the matches in order to preserve it.

“We’ve prepared for it. The boys have all dedicated themselves in the preparations and it’s about going out and trying to execute things on the day,” Eve said. “The commitment has been there and of course, we are aware that no game in this tournament will be easy.”

Team captain Molik Khan said, “I think we are focused on the task and we know what is required. The coach has instilled into us that hard work and sacrifice is what will get us through along with our skill and proper application.”

Defender Jarron Pascal arrived at the camp on Saturday afternoon after staying back in San Jose, Costa Rica to sit a CAPE examination.

Sunday’s match will be the first-ever CMU20 encounter between the two nations, as Trinidad & Tobago begin the quest for a third FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Cup, while Haiti are trying to qualify for their first.

The competition kicked off on Saturday with group stage action among the top-ranked 16 teams. After group stage play the top three teams in each of the groups will advance to the round of 16, joining four teams which have already booked a spot in the round of 16 after performing at a high level at the 2022 Concacaf Championships Qualifying tournament.

All knockout stage matches will be played in a single match elimination format, with the semifinalists (four teams) qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia and the finalists (two teams) for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.

The 2022 Concacaf Championships end on July 3.