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NEW Soca Warriors coach Dwight Yorke said his team's upcoming international friendly away to Saudi Arabia is their first step on the journey to qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
The former Manchester United legend and TT skipper will get his first test as Soca Warriors coach on December 17, when his team meets Saudi Arabia in at the Al Shabab Club Stadium, Riyadh. The TT Football Association (TTFA) announced the friendly in a media release on December 11.
The announcement came on the day Saudi Arabia was announced as the host nation for the 2034 Fifa World Cup. It will be the country's first staging of the prestigious tournament.
The Soca Warriors squad will leave for Riyadh on December 13.
Yorke selected a 23-man squad which features 15 local-based players and also includes Guatemala-based defender and captain Aubrey David, the Canada-based pair of Reon Moore and Steffen Yeates, and Wayne Frederick II, who was the second overall pick in the 2024 Major Soccer League (MLS) SuperDraft.
The veteran pair of Joevin Jones and Kevin Molino, both of whom returned to national duty for the last two games of the Soca Warriors' 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League A campaign, have also been included.
The uncapped attacking pair of Tyrese Bailey (Terminix La Horquetta Rangers) and Jariel Arthur (1976 FC Phoenix) are also in the squad.
"My exciting TT squad is motivated to return to the World Cup, 20 years after I was proud to captain my country at the tournament in 2006," Yorke said. "This game will be the first step in a journey we take together with players who have given great service as others work for the opportunity to join us along the way."
TT's quest to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup will resume with a qualifier versus St Kitts and Nevis on June 6.
Jones and Molino went head-to-head in the opening game of the 2024/25 TT Premier Football League season on December 6, with the latter scoring the game's first goal to inspire Defence Force in a Man of the Match display. Arthur also had a fruitful start to the TTPFL season, scoring the opening goal for Phoenix in their 2-1 win against Point Fortin Civic on Sunday.
The match will be played outside the international Fifa match window, and offers Yorke the opportunity to get a look at the talent at his disposal before TT enter competitive action with the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup preliminary playoff against Cuba next March. Saudi Arabia are ranked 59th by Fifa, with TT ranked 102nd.
"This is an excellent opportunity to assess the team's readiness and implement our strategies ahead of a critical year," Yorke said.
"We're focused on building cohesion and ensuring we're fully prepared for the challenges ahead, starting with the Gold Cup playoff."
Former St Augustine and St Mary's College standout Tyrese Spicer, who was selected as the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC, was not picked, as he's regaining full fitness from a recent injury setback, the TTFA release said. Goalkeeper Denzil Smith was ruled out as he is also recovering from injury, with the Halifax Wanderers pair of Andre Rampersad and Ryan Telfer also unavailable.
"It will be an honour to lead the TT national team against Saudi Arabia later this month," Yorke said. "The match represents a major opportunity to create lasting relationships with the Saudi football family and their passionate football fans...the fixture will also showcase the progress of both ambitious, emerging countries."
In the most recent meeting between the teams in 2013, former captain Kenwyne Jones led the Soca Warriors to a 3-1 win with a brace.
"Saudi Arabia's talented players gained friends all over the world, including the Caribbean, with their win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup and they will host major events in the future," Yorke said.
TTFA president Kieron Edwards said it was another part of an exciting chapter for TT football.
"This match offers a valuable opportunity for our team to test their skills against strong opposition on an international stage," Edwards said. "It's also a historic moment as Dwight Yorke leads the team for the first time in an international match as head coach."

Soca Warriors squad:

Goalkeepers: Christopher Biggette, Adrian Foncette.
Defenders: Aubrey David, Isaiah Garcia, Justin Garcia, Shannon Gomez, Jamal Jack, Alvin Jones, Ross Russell Jr, Jesse Williams.
Midfielders: Tyrese Bailey, Wayne Frederick II, Real Gill, Neveal Hackshaw, Joevin Jones, Kevin Molino, Duane Muckette, Michel Poon-Angeron, Kaihim Thomas, Steffen Yeates.
Forwards: Jariel Arthur, Isaiah Lee, Reon Moore.
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