Hectic December into 2026 period
HECTIC DECEMBER-TO-2026 PERIOD AHEAD FOR TRINIDAD & TOBAGO NATIONAL YOUTH TEAMS
TTFA Announces U17 & U20 Men’s Preparations and “DecembHER Football – Jewels of the Caribbean” Tournament
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) is entering one of its busiest year-end periods in recent times as both the Men’s Under-17 and Under-20 National Teams intensify their preparations ahead of major international engagements in early 2026.
Over the past several weeks, management staffs for both squads have been conducting nationwide screening sessions, identifying talent and laying the groundwork for the competitive calendar ahead.
U17 Men Begin Camp December 15
The Under-17 Men, led by Head Coach Randolph Boyce, will enter a residential training camp on December 15th as they begin their final push toward the Concacaf U17 Qualifiers.
Trinidad and Tobago will open their campaign at the Hasely Crawford Stadium against Barbados on February 3, followed by Saint Martin on February 5. They then face Sint Maarten on February 9, before closing the group against giants Mexico on February 12.
U20 Men Enter Camp December 19
Meanwhile, the Under-20 Men’s Team, under Head Coach Marvin Gordon, will officially begin camp on December 19th. The group will break briefly for Christmas before resuming training ahead of their 2026 qualification programme.
TTFA to Host “DecembHER Football – Jewels of the Caribbean”
Adding to a full calendar, the TTFA will also host the “DecembHER Football – Jewels of the Caribbean” tournament from December 15th, featuring competition in two age categories: U17 and U20.
This year’s edition welcomes teams from Jamaica, Indy Premier (USA), and Trinidad and Tobago, with the host nation fielding two teams in each age category. The tournament supports the continued growth of women’s football and provides valuable match experience for emerging talent in the region.
The Senior Women’s team will also resume training as they prepare for next year’s Concacaf W qualifiers versus El Salvador and Honduras, following its opening 5-0 win away to Barbados in December.
The new Strategic Development Plan will also be unveiled by the TTFA in the coming weeks while plans for the Senior Men’s Team are also forthcoming.
TTFA President Kieron Edwards stated:
“December into early 2026 represents a critical window for our youth development pathway. Our U17 and U20 boys have important qualifiers ahead, and the management teams have been working tirelessly to ensure we are prepared. At the same time, hosting the ‘DecembHER Football – Jewels of the Caribbean’ tournament reflects our commitment to raising the standard of women’s football and giving our young ladies meaningful international competition. This is an exciting period for the TTFA, and we are determined to ensure that our programmes continue to grow and inspire all of Trinidad and Tobago.”
The TTFA thanks all stakeholders—including coaches, parents, clubs, and supporters—for their ongoing efforts and looks forward to a productive and inspiring football season as 2026 approaches.
Additional Details
Group E
T&T U-20 Men will play in Group E with hosts Costa Rica, Bermuda, Barbados, Sint Maarten.After round-robin play, the first-place team from each group will advance to the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship, joining the six top-ranked nations that are pre-qualified directly to the tournament. The 32 participating men’s U-20 teams were split into two groups of six and four groups of five.
2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship
The 12-team Championship is scheduled for the summer of 2026, running from July 25 to Aug. 9, and will feature the region’s 12 best men’s U-20 national teams divided into three groups of four. The tournament will also serve as the qualifying competition for both the 2027 FIFA Men’s U-20 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
After round-robin play, the two top teams of each group and the two best third-place teams will advance to a Knockout Stage comprised of the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final.
Go here for Details on the Men’s U-17 qualifiers
Click for Women’s Under 17 qualifiers
