Trinidad and Tobago's senior men's football team are one win away from victory in a crucial FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier today in Willemstad at 7pm as they take on CONCACAF Group B leaders Curacao.
Soca Warriors are third in the group with four points and need maximum points to keep their hopes of a second World Cup alive.
Curacao currently leads the table with seven points, while Jamaica is second with six points. Anything less than a win could put T&T's promotion hopes in jeopardy.
Head coach Dwight York said his players are fully aware of the gravity of the challenge and the stakes.
“We're in a better position and obviously we had a huge win against Bermuda,” York said. “Now we come to Curaçao knowing that Curaçao is at the top of the table and that's a given. But we knew from the beginning that this team was never going to be as simple as many thought. What we did was give ourselves a chance to get back into it.”
Yorke said the team has no illusions about the task ahead but remains confident his players can rise to the challenge.
“We will face a very tough test in Curacao but we have no illusions. I always say to the players that we can only control what is in front of us,” he noted. “They (Curaçao) are in a really good mood after their win over Jamaica. Everyone on the island is optimistic and so are we. We are at a very crucial stage of the tournament. A win will definitely take us one step closer to qualifying.”
Yorke believes the squad's growing confidence and depth will be key to getting the job done with all 26 players fit and ready. “That’s the beauty of it when things heat up,” he said.
“It's a manager's dream to keep everyone fit and hungry. We quickly turned the negative environment of the early results into a positive one. A win here tomorrow (today) would be huge for us and the players are fully aware of what it takes to overcome Curacao.”
The former Manchester United striker also dismissed any concerns about the artificial surface at the El Gilio Hatto Stadium, insisting adaptability is crucial.
“The surface will be a little different — not a typical football field — but for both sets of players,” York noted. “If it's good for them, it's good for us. We're not going to make any excuses. If we play to our full potential, we have enough in the locker room to overcome it.”
Yorke said his players must accept the pressure of the moment and make a difference when it matters most.
“Players have to step up and be taken seriously. If you want to qualify for the World Cup, you have to play these types of games and get results. There is no hiding place,” he stressed. “We have a squad that can compete with the best teams in this competition. If we play to our full potential we can overcome the difficulties and get the results we came here to look for.”