Levi, Spicer eye knockout blow vs St Kitts in World Cup qualifier

Trinidad and Tobago men's football team attackers Levi Garcia and Toronto FC's Tyrese Spicer are both aiming to deliver crunch performances when the Soca Warriors face St Kitts and Nevis in the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford, Stadium, Mucurapo from 7.30 pm on June 6.

With TT (four points) second to Costa Rica (six points) in group B of Concacaf's second round of qualifying, a win over St Kitts and Nevis could guarantee TT's spot in the final round.

The 24-year-old Spicer, who only made his Soca Warriors debut in March, starred in his first two international matches as he helped the team to a thumping 6-1 aggregate win over Cuba as they booked a spot in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

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Meanwhile, Garcia, who only sealed a move to Spartak Moscow in February, is looking to suit up for the Soca Warriors for the first time since coach Dwight Yorke took charge last November. The 27-year-old Garcia last turned out for the Soca Warriors in June 2024, when the team played to a 2-2 draw against Grenada in Mucurapo in their first World Cup qualifier. On that occasion, Garcia was substituted at halftime after suffering a blow to his lower back. He missed the subsequent 7-1 win over the Bahamas as a result. Now, that he's back, Garcia wants to deliver on the big stage.

"I always try to add whatever I can. The experience I've got so far at Spartak is probably the status in delivering in big games," Garcia told the media before a Soca Warriors training session on June 4.

"Hopefully, in this big game on Friday, once my body gives me the support, I could do what I have to do."

So far, Garcia has netted three goals for Spartak, including an item in a 2-1 win over Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Cup in April.

He said there isn't any pressure on his shoulders to deliver.

"There are 11 players on the pitch and I remember being 18-19 with the likes of Kenwyne Jones and these guys in the squad. I believe the younger guys have something to prove. I'm just here to give what I can. It's just good to be back. Hopefully, on the day, I can do what I can."

Garcia said it's nice being around the team which has a new bunch of players, including CF Montreal's Dante Sealy who has received a maiden call-up. The Russian-based player said the team's mission under Yorke is clear.

"(Yorke is) a legend, of course. For me and the guys, it's exciting...I think guys are mostly excited because of his high quality and the career he had. Based on what I've seen so far, I could see a step up from the players.

"The plan and the vision is to qualify for the World Cup. Of course, he's been implementing it in the first session I've been here and we can see the goal and the drive is to qualify."

Garcia said the team needs to treat the game as the last one in their campaign and make it their mission to dominate against St Kitts and Nevis, who are currently third on the table with three points.

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Spicer, who was utilised as a marauding left wing-back in the matches against Cuba, wants to bring the experience he has learnt from rubbing shoulders with a pair of Italian stalwarts.

"I think the MLS experience has helped me to mature. Especially, getting used to the media and the spotlight. I know it's a lot of pressure, but being drafted number one overall is a lot. I think I dealt with that pressure well and I think it helps me build my character," said Spicer, who was the top pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.

"Players like Lorenzo Insigne and Frederico Bernadeschi. I get to talk to them every day and I train with them every day and I get to see how they train and how experienced they are. And I could feed off of that."

Attackers Bernadeschi and Insigne were members of the Italian team that won the Euro 2020 title, while the former won three Serie A titles with Juventus during his stint with the club from 2017-2022.

After creating goals for his teammates with his wing play in the two-legged affair with Cuba, Spicer is determined to put his name up in the lights as well.

"I just want to be able to contribute as much as I can in this game coming forward. I want to be able to show my class, my instinct, speed, (dynamism) and score goals as well. I want to score my first goal for TT. Besides that, I just want to contribute to the team, hear what Dwight Yorke has to say and go out there and do my best."

Spicer highlighted fellow MLS talents Sealy and Colorado Rapids' Wayne Frederick II, and believes both players have a lot to offer to the Soca Warriors.

"I think this is a big stepping stone for myself and the team. I think the World Cup is a big goal as Dwight Yorke emphasises...I want to prove to the country that we can do this and we could still execute.

"Guys like Dante Sealy. He's a great player. I've played against him a couple of times. Players like that coming up and trying to work and show their class is exciting. You (the public) haven't seen him play, but you'll see him play in the game on Friday.

"I think he's a composed, brilliant player. I think he can bring a lot of dynamism in the midfield for us. That freshness, that new flair we're looking for. He's a really classy player and he's really confident. I think he just needs to get out of his shell and I think he'll be fine."