FRISCO, Texas – There will be plenty of power on the field on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, where Trinidad and Tobago will tangle with Canada in the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Play-In.
Each side will no doubt be looking to finish their 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League campaign on a high note and qualify for the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024.
Trinidad and Tobago showed a lot of character in their League A Quarterfinal against the U.S., losing 4-2 on aggregate, but not without a 2-1 win in the second leg and going 80 minutes without conceding a goal while playing a man down in the first leg.
The Soca Warriors were excellent in the group stage, finishing in second place in Group A with a 3W-0D-1L record.
Reon Moore starred for the Caribbean side in scoring three goals and providing an assist in the current CNL, while Nathaniel James twice scored goals as a second half substitute. GK Denzil Smith also figures to play a key role. Smith has made 31 saves in the 2023-24 CNL and has a clean sheet.
Canada lead the all-time series between the two teams with a 8W-2D-2L record, with their most memorable encounter coming in the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals when Canada secured a 1-0 win on their way to their lone Gold Cup crown.
This will be the first official match-up between the two in 24 years, and Canada will be eager to rebound from their frustrating League A Quarterfinal defeat to Jamaica on the away goal tiebreaker after a 4-4 draw.
When it comes to Canada, the first names that come to mind are Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David. That dynamic duo has tormented opponents in CNL play. David has six career CNL goals, including a score in the quarterfinals, while Davies also has six career CNL goals.
Another young Canadian attacker to watch is Jacon Shaffelburg, who is in great form at the moment having scored three goals for Nashville SC in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup and also scored for Canada in last summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals.
