...president optimistic of qualifying chance
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - The 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle presents the best opportunity for Team St. Kitts-Nevis to make history and qualify for the mega-showpiece event in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This viewpoint was expressed by Atiba Harris, President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA), during a recent press conference engagement with reporters.
"It is a World Cup year, it is a world cycle - the 2026 World Cup - which we dub the best chance or opportunity in a long time, a very long time. St. Kitts and Nevis have a realistic chance of qualifying, given that the three host nations are coming from the CONCACAF region," stated Harris.
This optimism follows the Sugar Boyz having made a successful run to the group stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2023, but were later relegated in the Nations League tournament from League B to League C.
During his press conference, Harris informed SKNVibes that they are currently scouting for players to include in their database, including those in the Under-20 category, to bolster their squad in preparation for the first game against Costa Rica in June.
"So, we are going to utilize this tournament (CONCACAF U20 qualifiers) as an opportunity... and a development stage with the next step for them to go into the senior team," noted Harris.
Despite the president's optimism, the Sugar Boyz were placed in a tough group, where they will face several of the region’s top teams, including Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.
Following the January 25th draw, St. Kitts and Nevis was placed in Group B alongside Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and the Bahamas, with matches scheduled accordingly.
"Our Senior Men’s National Team coaches have been looking at our players in the diaspora community as well as the local players who have been in preseason training," disclosed Harris.
According to CONCACAF, the Second Round matches will be played during the FIFA international match windows of June 2024 and June 2025, with each team playing four matches (two home and two away).
Following the completion of the Second Round, the group winners and runners-up will progress to the third and final round of the competition.
