Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2024) |
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Nickname(s) | The Sugar Boyz | ||
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Association | St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association | ||
Confederation | CONCACAF (North America) | ||
Sub-confederation | CFU (Caribbean) | ||
Head coach | Austin Huggins | ||
Captain | Julani Archibald | ||
Most caps | Gerard Williams (85) | ||
Top scorer | Keith Gumbs (24) | ||
Home stadium | Warner Park | ||
FIFA code | SKN | ||
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FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 146 ![]() | ||
Highest | 73 (October 2016, March 2017) | ||
Lowest | 176 (November 1994) | ||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Saint Christopher and Nevis; 18 August 1938) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; 17 April 1992) ![]() ![]() (The Valley, Anguilla; 14 October 2018) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Monterrey, Mexico; 17 November 2004) | |||
CONCACAF Gold Cup | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2023) | ||
Best result | Group stage (2023) | ||
Medal record |
The Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team is the national team of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and is controlled by the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association. They are affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF. The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, however, they did qualify for their first CONCACAF Gold Cup appearance in 2023.
They are nicknamed The Sugar Boyz due to the sugar cultivation on the island of St. Kitts.[citation needed]
History
[edit]Beginnings (1938–1990)
[edit]Saint Kitts and Nevis played their first match on 18 August 1938, against Grenada, a match that ended in a 2–4 defeat.[3] They participated in the Leeward Islands Tournament from 1949 however had to wait until 1979 to play their first official matches, in the qualifying rounds for the 1979 CFU Championship, losing twice to Jamaica, both results finishing 2–1.[citation needed] They would again fail to qualify for the final phase of the 1983 CFU Championship, after advancing due to Jamaica's withdrawal, they'd be eliminated by Martinique, who won 12–0 on aggregate.[citation needed]
1990–2000
[edit]The Sugar Boyz qualified for their first tournament at the 1993 Caribbean Cup, defeating Dominican Republic (3–2) and British Virgin Islands (5–0) to top their qualifying group.[citation needed] In the tournament proper, they finished second behind Jamaica to reach the semi-finals, before losing to Martinique on penalties.[citation needed] In the match for third place, they were defeated 3–2 by Trinidad and Tobago.[citation needed] Saint Kitts and Nevis finished bottom of their group in 1996 but in the 1997 Caribbean Cup, they advanced into the knock-out after finishing level on points with both Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique, then defeated Grenada 2–1 in extra-time with both goals scored by Keith Gumbs, but they succumbed to Trinidad and Tobago 0–4 in the final.[citation needed] Since they'd reached the final, Saint Kitts and Nevis were entered into a play-off against Cuba – runner-up in the 1996 Caribbean Cup – for the last ticket to the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but they lost 2–0.[citation needed]
Saint Kitts and Nevis participated for the first time in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[citation needed] After benefiting from the withdrawal of the Bahamas, they beat Saint Lucia 5–1 in Basseterre and 1–0 in Castries, but fell in the third knockout round against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, losing thanks to the away goals rule.[citation needed]
2000s
[edit]In the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, after comfortably beating the Turks and Caicos Islands with an aggregate result of 14–0, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines once again dispatched the Sugar Boyz, winning both in Kingstown (1–0) as in Basseterre (1–2).[citation needed] However, the situation would improve in the 2006 qualifiers, since Saint Kitts and Nevis advanced to the second group phase after leaving the US Virgin Islands and Barbados on the way.[citation needed] They shared Group 3 with Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, but as expected, finished in last place, with 6 losses in as many appearances.[citation needed] They also experienced the worst defeat in their history, 8–0 against Mexico.[citation needed] In the preliminary round for the 2010 qualifiers, they were unable to repeat what they had done four years ago and were unceremoniously eliminated by Belize, who won 4–2 on aggregate.[citation needed]
In the Caribbean Cup, the Sugar Boyz did not repeat the successes of the '90s and could only qualify to the final phase of the 2001 Caribbean Cup, although they did not advance beyond the group phase.[citation needed] They have not returned to a final phase since that edition.[citation needed]
2010–present
[edit]Qualifying directly to the second round of the 2014 qualifiers, Saint Kitts and Nevis was drawn in Group D along with Canada, Puerto Rico and Saint Lucia.[citation needed] They finished in 3rd place, with 7 points.[citation needed] It was only defeated by Canada in Toronto (4–0).[citation needed] In the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Saint Kitts and Nevis defeated the Turks and Caicos Islands in the first round by a lofty aggregate 12–4[citation needed] before falling in the second phase, at the hands of El Salvador, 6–3 on aggregate,[citation needed] but not before obtaining a 2–2 draw at home.[citation needed] In November 2015, they played 2 friendlies against European teams, Andorra (1–0) and Estonia (0–3).[citation needed] Devaughn Elliott scored the only goal in the victory over Andorra, becoming the first St. Kitts and Nevis player to score against a European side.[4] The result was also the first away victory for a CFU team over a European side on their home soil.[5]
In October 2016, it reached its highest ranking in the FIFA world ranking (73rd place) thanks to its good performance in the 2nd round of the 2017 Caribbean Cup of Nations qualifiers.[citation needed] However, two defeats against French Guiana (0–1) and Haiti at home (0–2 a.e.t.) stopped the Sugar Boyz in the 3rd round of these qualifiers.[citation needed] The year ends with a 1–1 draw in Basseterre against Estonia on November 19, 2016, in a friendly match, one year after playing against the same team in Tallinn.[citation needed]
In June 2017, the team went on a second European tour and played Armenia on June 4 in Yerevan[citation needed] and Georgia three days later in Tbilisi.[citation needed] Both games ended in equally bad losses, 5–0 and 3–0, respectively.[citation needed] St. Kitts and Nevis continues its pattern of international tours and travels in August 2017 to Mumbai to meet Mauritius and India in a friendly tournament, the 2017 Hero Tri-Nation Series.[citation needed] Both matches ended in draws acquired by the same score of one goal each.[citation needed]
The Sugar Boyz played Andorra again on March 25, 2022, six and a half years after their first confrontation, for a friendly match in Andorra la Vella.[citation needed] This time the Principality's selection wins against Saint Kitts and Nevis on its home stadium (1–0).[citation needed]
They qualified for their first ever CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2023.[citation needed]
National football stadium
[edit]Stadium | Capacity | City |
---|---|---|
Warner Park Football Stadium | 3,500 | Basseterre |
Results and fixtures
[edit]The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2023
[edit]25 June 2023 Gold Cup | Trinidad and Tobago ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Fort Lauderdale, United States |
15:30 UTC−4 | Report | Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras) |
28 June 2023 Gold Cup | Saint Kitts and Nevis ![]() | 0–6 | ![]() | St. Louis, United States |
20:30 UTC−5 | Report |
|
Stadium: CityPark Attendance: 21,216 Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica) |
2 July 2023 Gold Cup | Jamaica ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() | Santa Clara, United States |
16:00 UTC−7 | Report | Stadium: Levi's Stadium Attendance: 60,347 Referee: Adonai Escobedo (Mexico) |
7 September 2023–24 Nations League | Saint Kitts and Nevis ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |
19:00 UTC−4 |
|
Report | Stadium: SKNFA Technical Center Referee: Filiberto Martínez (El Salvador) |
10 September 2023–24 Nations League | Saint Lucia ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Gros Islet, Saint Lucia |
19:00 UTC−4 | Report | Stadium: Daren Sammy Cricket Ground Referee: Moeth Gaymes (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) |
12 October 2023–24 Nations League | Sint Maarten ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() | The Valley, Anguilla |
15:00 UTC−4 | Report |
|
Stadium: Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre Attendance: 122 Referee: Josué Ugalde (Costa Rica) |
15 October 2023–24 Nations League | Saint Kitts and Nevis ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |
19:00 UTC−4 | Report |
|
Stadium: SKNFA Technical Center Referee: Yadel Martínez (Cuba) |
16 November 2023–24 Nations League | Saint Kitts and Nevis ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |
19:00 UTC−4 | Report | Stadium: SKNFA Technical Center Attendance: 120 Referee: David Gómez (Costa Rica) |
19 November 2023–24 Nations League | Guadeloupe ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() | Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe |
15:00 UTC−4 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade Municipal de Sainte-Anne Referee: Daniel Quintero (Mexico) |
2024
[edit]20 March Friendly | San Marino ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() | Serravalle, San Marino |
20:45 CET | Report |
|
Stadium: Olympic Stadium of Serravalle Referee: Deborah Bianchi (Italy) |
24 March Friendly | San Marino ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Serravalle, San Marino |
20:45 CET | Report | Stadium: Olympic Stadium of Serravalle Referee: Désirée Grundbacher (Switzerland) |
6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Costa Rica ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | San José, Costa Rica |
20:30 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica Referee: Julio Luna (Guatemala) |
11 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Saint Kitts and Nevis ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis |
--:-- UTC−4 |
|
Report (CONCACAF) | Stadium: Warner Park Sporting Complex Attendance: 539 Referee: Walter López Castellanos (Guatemala) |
7 September 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | Cayman Islands ![]() | v | ![]() | Cayman Islands |
--:-- UTC−4 | Stadium: TBD |
15 October 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | Saint Kitts and Nevis ![]() | v | ![]() | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
--:-- UTC−4 | Stadium: TBD |
2025
[edit]10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Saint Kitts and Nevis ![]() | v | ![]() | |
--:-- UTC−4 |
Coaches
[edit]Carlos Cavagnaro (1988)
Alistair Edwards (1996–1997)
Ces Podd (1999–2000)
Clinton Percival (2000–2001)
Elvis Browne (2002–2004)
Lenny Lake (2004)
Leonard Taylor (2008)
Lester Morris (2008)
Lenny Lake (2008–2010)
Clinton Percival (2010–2012)
Jeffrey Hazel (2012–2015)
Jacques Passy (2015–2019)
Earl Jones (2019)
Claudio Caimi (2019–2021)
Leonardo Neiva (2021)
Austin Huggins (2022–)
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Costa Rica on 6 June and Bahamas on 11 June 2024.[6]
- Caps and goals correct as of: 11 June 2024 after the match against
Bahamas
Recent call ups
[edit]Player records
[edit]- As of 12 June 2024[7]
- Players in bold are still active with Saint Kitts & Nevis.
Most appearances
[edit]Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gerard Williams | 85 | 2 | 2006–present |
2 | Thrizen Leader | 76 | 1 | 2004–2021 |
3 | Julani Archibald | 65 | 0 | 2008–present |
4 | George Isaac | 53 | 22 | 1996–2011 |
5 | Orlando Mitchum | 49 | 6 | 2004–2019 |
6 | Jevon Francis | 47 | 23 | 2000–2011 |
7 | Ian Lake | 46 | 20 | 2002–2012 |
8 | Romaine Sawyers | 45 | 6 | 2012–present |
9 | Atiba Harris | 42 | 10 | 2003–2019 |
10 | Keith Gumbs | 41 | 24 | 1993–2011 |
Top goalscorers
[edit]Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Keith Gumbs | 24 | 41 | 0.59 | 1993–2011 |
2 | Jevon Francis | 23 | 47 | 0.49 | 2000–2011 |
3 | George Isaac | 22 | 53 | 0.42 | 1996–2011 |
4 | Ian Lake | 20 | 46 | 0.43 | 2002–2012 |
5 | Harry Panayiotou | 12 | 38 | 0.32 | 2014–present |
6 | Austin Huggins | 11 | 36 | 0.31 | 1993–2004 |
7 | Atiba Harris | 10 | 42 | 0.24 | 2003–2019 |
8 | Alexis Saddler | 9 | 26 | 0.35 | 2000–2011 |
9 | Vernon Sargeant | 8 | 24 | 0.33 | 1993–2004 |
10 | Tiquanny Williams | 6 | 16 | 0.38 | 2021–present |
Keithroy Freeman | 6 | 18 | 0.33 | 2016–present | |
Romaine Sawyers | 6 | 45 | 0.13 | 2012–present | |
Orlando Mitchum | 6 | 49 | 0.12 | 2004–2019 |
Competitive record
[edit]FIFA World Cup
[edit]FIFA World Cup | Qualification | ||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
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Part of ![]() |
Part of ![]() | |||||||||||||
1934 to 1990 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | |||||||||||||
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Did not enter | Declined participation | |||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | ||||||||
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4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 3 | |||||||||
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10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 26 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||
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6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 10 | |||||||||
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6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 8 | |||||||||
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To be determined | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||
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To be determined | ||||||||||||||
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Total | – | 0/8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 73 | 66 |
CONCACAF Gold Cup
[edit]CONCACAF Gold Cup record | ||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | |
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Not eligible | |||||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||||
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Group stage | 16th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | Squad | |
Total | Group stage | 1/16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | – |
CONCACAF Nations League
[edit]CONCACAF Nations League record | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
League | Finals | ||||||||||||||||||
Season | Division | Group | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | P/R | Finals | Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | |
2019–20 | B | A | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | ![]() |
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Ineligible | ||||||||
2022–23 | C | B | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | ![]() |
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2023–24 | B | A | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | ![]() |
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2024–25 | C | C | To be determined | ![]() | |||||||||||||||
Total | — | — | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 24 | — | Total | 0 Titles | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Caribbean Cup
[edit]Caribbean Cup record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
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Did not qualify | ||||||
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Fourth place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 8 |
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Did not qualify | ||||||
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Group stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
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Runners-up | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
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Did not qualify | ||||||
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Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
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Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
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Did not qualify | ||||||
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Total | 5/18 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 26 | 43 |
References
[edit]- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Courtney, Barrie. "Saint Kitts and Nevis – List of International Matches". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "St. Kitts and Nevis vs. Andorra". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "'Sugar Boyz' defeat Andorra in historic European win". miyvue.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "⚽🇰🇳St.Kitts-Nevis Senior Men's Team head coach Francisco Molina has named his squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers vs Costa Rica and the Bahamas. The Sugar Boyz take on Costa Rica on June 6th in San Jose, Costa Rica, followed by a home game on June 11th vs the Bahamas at Warner Park. The full squad reads:". St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Saint Kitts and Nevis". National Football Teams.