Five Things to Know: Trinidad & Tobago

The U.S. Men’s National Team continues its 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup campaign with the second group stage match against Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday, June 22 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland (8 p.m. ET; FS1, Univision, UDN and Futbol de Primera Radio Network).

Here are five things you should know about Trinidad & Tobago:

The Soca Warriors

No, Soca isn’t another word for our sport. It’s actually a style of music popular in the Caribbean, and more specifically in Trinidad & Tobago where it originated. Invented by Lord Shorty, Soca is short for “Soul of Calypso” and fuses the popular genre with Indo-Caribbean beats.

Much like Jamaica’s claim as the birthplace to the reggae genre has earned their national team the nickname of The Reggae Boyz, Trinidad & Tobago’s teams are known as The Soca Warriors.

Footballing History

Trinidad & Tobago has risen from relative obscurity to become one of the powers of the Caribbean and a top nation in the Concacaf region. In 1989, the dual-island nation came within one win of qualifying for its first World Cup, only to fall 1-0 to the United States in the final match of World Cup qualifying. While disappointing, that run set the basis for the nation’s arrival as an elite side in the region and 16 years later, T&T went on to become the smallest country to qualify for a World Cup when they clinched a berth at Germany 2006.

The eight-time Caribbean champions and are taking part in their 10^th Concacaf Gold Cup.

Head Coach: Dennis Lawrence

Known best for scoring the goal that sent T&T to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, former Soca Warriors defender Dennis Lawrence took over the side in March 2017. A towering figure at 6-8, Lawrence played professionally for 18 years, including eight seasons in the English League system with Wrexham, Swansea City and Crewe Alexandria.

Lawrence played every minute of Trinidad & Tobago’s three matches at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, including a memorable 0-0 draw with Sweden. A former captain of the Soca Warriors, his 89 appearances rank him seventh on Trinidad & Tobago’s all-time caps list.

USMNT History vs. Trinidad & Tobago

The USA holds a commanding 18-3-4 record against Trinidad & Tobago, is 13-0-1 on home soil and 3-0-0 in Concacaf Gold Cup play.

USA-Trinidad & Tobago Gold Cup Results
Date	Result	Goal Scorers	Location
June 29, 1991	2-1 W	Murray, Balboa	Pasadena, Calif.
Jan. 13, 1996	3-2 W	Wynalda (2), Moore	Anaheim, Calif.
June 9, 2007	2-0 W	Ching, E. Johnson	Carson, Calif.

Despite those hefty advantages, the last meeting between the two sides saw the Soca Warriors return the favor for the 1989 defeat, with their 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory and other results in the region on Oct. 10, 2017, keeping the USMNT out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Twenty months on, a new era of the series begins on Saturday at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

Trinidad & Tobago Roster

Below is Trinidad & Tobago’s 23-player roster for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Notably 10 players are based in the United States, with three playing in Major League Soccer. Winger Joevin Jones is teammates with USA players Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan at Seattle Sounders FC, while midfielder Kevin Molino features for Minnesota United FC and goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh is on the books at Orlando City SC.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Marvin Phillip (Central), Greg Ranjitsingh (Orlando City SC)

DEFENDERS (6): Daneil Cyrus (Al-Orobah/KSA), Aubrey David (Saprissa/CRC), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Alvin Jones (OKC Energy FC/USA), Carlyle Mitchell (Terminix La Horquetta Rangers; 36/3), Mekeil Williams (OKC Energy FC/USA; 25/1)

MIDFIELDERS (12): Cordell Cato (OKC Energy FC/USA; 29/2), Levi Garcia (Beitar Jerusalem/ISR; 20/2), Kevan George (Charlotte Independence/USA; 45/0), Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven/USA; 11/0), Akeem Humphrey (Club Sando; 3/0), Khaleem Hyland (Al-Faisaly/KSA; 84/4), Joevin Jones (Seattle Sounders FC/USA; 70/7), Nathan Lewis (Lansing Ignite/USA; 24/2), Kevn Molino (Minnesota United FC/USA; 45/19), Duane Muckette (Memphis 901; 2/0), Leston Paul (Memphis 901/USA; 23/0) Jomal Williams (W Connection; 16/2)

FORWARDS (2): Lester Peltier (Al-Orobah/KSA; 39/6), Shahdon Winchester (W Connection; 26/6)