by Bart Keeler
As we’ve learned during COVID times, plans can always change. The United States men’s national team were reportedly set to play against Serbia at the end of the month. Instead, Trinidad & Tobago will come to Orlando, Florida, for a friendly on Sunday, Jan. 31, the USMNT officially announced today.
TT Pro League, the top domestic league in Trinidad & Tobago, has not played since March 13, 2020. This will be the first official match for the country since the COVID-19 pandemic halted paly last year.
U.S. Soccer will allow up to 4,500 fans into Exploria Stadium for the match. This will be the third match in January to be played in this stadium, which will also host the SheBelieves Cup in February.
In December, reports claimed Serbia—which does not have a permanent head coach—would play the Dominican Republic and the U.S. this month. Although the match against the Caribbean nation was confirmed, no official match was set with the USMNT.
Now, the USMNT is scheduled to play Concacaf foes Trinidad & Tobago to close out this hybrid January 2021 camp. A 23-man squad will be selected from the 11 senior national team players and 27 U-23 players currently training together(ish) in Bradenton, Florida.
The USMNT last faced Trinidad & Tobago in the group stage of the 2019 Gold Cup, a 6-0 drubbing. It is possible that the teams could face off in the first match of the final round of Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar in September.
Trinidad & Tobago start the preliminary round of qualifiers in Group F. If they win the group, the Soca Warriors will play the winner of Group A in the play-off to qualify for the final round. The USMNT will travel to the winner of the A/E playoff to start their qualifying run.
(photo credit: @USMNT)
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