PORT OF SPAIN – Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards has thrown his weight firmly behind head coach Dwight Yorke, insisting the former Manchester United star remains the right man to lead the Soca Warriors despite a sluggish start to their World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Competing in Group B, Trinidad and Tobago have managed just one point from their opening two fixtures — a draw with Curaçao and a defeat to Jamaica — leaving them third in the standings. With only the group winners guaranteed a direct berth to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the pressure has already begun to mount.
Yorke, appointed in November 2024 with a clear mandate to guide the team to its second-ever World Cup, has faced calls for his resignation. But Edwards made it clear that the TTFA is standing firmly in his corner.
Edwards: “We are behind Dwight 100 percent”
Speaking on i95.5 FM’s 6 to 26 World Cup podcast, Edwards admitted the team’s start was underwhelming but stressed that patience is essential.
“I’m a bit disappointed from the first two games. I think every Trinbagonian is a bit disappointed from the first two games — we were expecting more,” Edwards conceded. “I think we played well enough to deserve more, but football is that type of sport. Unless you put the ball inside the net and win those games and see out 90-plus minutes, you have to understand and accept those realities.”
Looking ahead, he emphasized that the upcoming fixtures will be pivotal.
“We are looking forward to the next window and the next window is a very crucial one for us. We knew going into the first window that we couldn’t qualify for the World Cup out of the first window. Even having a good first window, we knew this second window is the real one in terms of setting up to get to that last window in November to qualify — and the journey is still there.”
VAR controversy and missed chances
Edwards also highlighted the role of technology in shaping early results, pointing to the disallowed goals against Jamaica as a critical turning point.
“Persons would have seen in both games that we scored three offside goals in Jamaica. The first one was just leaning forward, a hairline decision. It was the first time using VAR in qualifying as well, and it was to our detriment for three goals,” Edwards explained.
Despite the setbacks, he insisted Yorke’s blueprint remains intact.
“Coach Yorke, I truly believe, has the plan and the vision in terms of what he wants to do. He’s clear about it. With the additional support of the third-generation grandparent law, it does widen the pool.”
Patience in the pursuit of history
For Edwards, the message is clear: while disappointment lingers from the opening results, the campaign is far from lost. With Yorke at the helm and reinforcements potentially on the way, the TTFA remains focused on keeping the World Cup dream alive.
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