The Critical Phase—All Hands on Deck

We’ve arrived at the point where there is no room for hesitation, no space for half-measures. This is the level — the World Cup Final Round qualifying stage — where preparation meets pressure, and only the strongest, most united teams survive.

We host Curaçao at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Friday, September 5th. Early bird tier 1 tickets went on sale last week and are 90 per cent gone.

We’re at the stage now where talk alone won’t get us there. It’s where the smallest detail can be the difference between staying in the race or falling out before November.

When I say “all hands on deck”, I’m not just talking about the players and the coaches. I mean every single person and department connected to the national team: management, medical staff, operations, communications, technical, logistics, sponsors, administrators — everyone.

Add to that the financial backers and every stakeholder who can help move the machine forward with the ability to contribute, because in this phase, there is no “small” role.

If last year or even in June you felt this was the level, it’s time to shake yourself and readjust. The demands now are greater, the margins finer and the consequences sharper. The FIFA World Cup is not a casual pursuit. This is now-or-nothing territory.

Player commitment is non-negotiable. The mindset has to match the mission ahead—and that means maximum discipline, professionalism, and sacrifice. Stakeholder support must be consistent and tangible, not occasional bursts of goodwill. Financial systems must be airtight, ensuring that nothing — from player travel to training facilities — becomes a stumbling block.

It’s not just about showing up on time for matches. It’s ensuring we have good hotel amenities both at home and away. Air travel for players and staff must be properly planned and stress-free. Every trip, every camp, every game should feel ready for “lights, camera, action.” The players must see that the ingredients are top shelf — from the training facilities and tactical meeting rooms to the meals on the table — and they must want to be part of the T&T football setup.

Meanwhile, our rivals are already deep in their own preparations. Jamaica, Bermuda, and Curaçao all have their homework in motion. They’re not waiting for the whistle to start—they’re already running the race.

We’ve seen what building for the future looks like. Just over the past week, our U-15 boys showed relentless effort to take third place in League B of the Concacaf U-15 Championship.

Many of these young men are potential members of our senior squad for the 2030 and 2034 campaigns. And our U14 girls have everything ahead of them. Success at the top will no doubt increase their belief that there is a path to follow — that the dream is real and within reach.

And we all need to be honest about one thing: what is the end game? How badly do we want this? If qualifying for the World Cup is not seen as essential to our country’s sporting success and national pride, then step aside. Make space for those who understand the scale of what’s at stake and are ready to give everything for it.

People often ask me, “Aren’t you tired of saying these things?” Maybe. But tired or not, the truth still stands. The urgency doesn’t go away because we’re weary of repeating it.

This is the critical phase. It will demand clarity of purpose, unity of effort, and an unshakeable belief that we belong at the world’s biggest stage. If you’re in, be all in. If not, be honest enough to step aside. We will not turn you away from the afterparty.