Belize national football team

The Belize national football team represents Belize in international football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Belize, a member of the Central American Football Union of CONCACAF.

Belize
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Jaguars
The Unbelizeables
AssociationFootball Federation of Belize (FFB)
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationUNCAF (Central America)
Head coachDavid Pérez Asensio
CaptainEvral Trapp
Most capsDeon McCaulay (63)
Top scorerDeon McCaulay (28)
Home stadiumFFB Stadium
FIFA codeBLZ
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 182 Steady (15 February 2024)[1]
Highest114 (April–June 2016)
Lowest201 (November 2007 – January 2008)
First international
 British Honduras 1–0 Honduras 
(British Honduras; 19 February 1928)
as Belize
 El Salvador 3–0 Belize 
(San Salvador, El Salvador; 29 November 1995)
Biggest win
 Belize 7–1 Nicaragua 
(Belize City, Belize; 17 April 2002)
Biggest defeat
 Costa Rica 7–0 Belize 
(San José, Costa Rica; 17 March 1999)
 Mexico 7–0 Belize 
(Monterrey, Mexico; 21 June 2008)
Gold Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2013)
Best resultGroup stage (2013)

Although Belize has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup tournament, it has once qualified for a CONCACAF Gold Cup championship in 2013, in which they were eliminated in the group stage. Belize has also competed in the sub-regional Central American Cup championship in which their best result was fourth place in 2013. The nickname for the players of the national team is the "Jaguars".

History edit

Overview edit

Named British Honduras whilst under British colonial rule, the country's first international game came on February 19, 1928, beating Honduras 1–0. Following independence, Belize's first game came on December 8, 1983, in a 2–0 loss against Canada in Belize.[3] Although Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1981 (and many of the UK's current colonies have international teams), Belize did not begin to regularly play international football until 1995. It made its debut at the 1995 UNCAF Nations Cup and was eliminated in the first round after losing to El Salvador and Costa Rica.

Belize has never qualified for the World Cup but finished fourth in the 2013 Copa Centroamericana. Their fourth-place finish in the 2013 Copa Centroamericana gave Belize its first qualification to a major international competition, that being the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

June 2011 suspension by FIFA edit

On June 15, 2011, Belize kicked off its 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign against minnows Montserrat, winning 2–5 away in a match played in the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Trinidad. However, the return which was scheduled for June 19 was postponed by FIFA when they suspended the FFB due to governmental interference.[4]

Team image edit

In February 2023 the Football Federation of Belize unveiled a new logo that would represent Belize’s national teams. Created by Rolando Ramirez, the new logo prominently features a Jaguar, the nickname of the team. The FFB hoped that the new image would promote unity and pride in the Belize football community.[5]

Stadium edit

FFB Stadium in Belmopan is the home stadium for the Belize national football team. Prior to this stadium, Belize had no facilities that met FIFA specifications. Apart from this Belize has many fields to play on but with no facilities for the players.

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

27 March 2022–23 Nations League Dominican Republic   2–0   Belize San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
18:00 (UTC−4)
  • Reyes   13'
  • Lorenzo   60'
Report Stadium: Estadio Panamericano
Referee: Yadel Martínez (Cuba)
8 September 2023–24 Nations League Belize   1–2   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Fort-de-France, Martinique
16:00 UTC−4
  • Mensah   18'
Report
Stadium: Stade Pierre-Aliker
Referee: Oliver Vergara (Panama)
12 September 2023–24 Nations League French Guiana   0–2   Belize Remire-Montjoly, French Guiana
16:30 UTC−3 Report
Stadium: Stade Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama
Referee: Hakeem Harvey (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
13 October 2023–24 Nations League Belize   0–1   Bermuda Belmopan, Belize
20:00 UTC−6 Report
Stadium: FFB Stadium
Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica)
17 October 2023–24 Nations League Bermuda   1–1   Belize Devonshire Parish, Bermuda
19:30 UTC−3
Report
Stadium: Dame Flora Duffy National Sports Centre
Referee: David Gómez (Costa Rica)
17 November 2023–24 Nations League Belize   1–0   French Guiana Belmopan, Belize
20:00 UTC−6
Report Stadium: FFB Stadium
Referee: Jefferson Escobar (Honduras)

2024 edit

21 March Friendly Belize   1–1   Puerto Rico Belmopan, Belize
19:30 UTC−6
Report
Stadium: FFB Stadium
24 March Friendly Belize   3–0   Puerto Rico Belmopan, Belize
18:00 UTC−6
Report Stadium: FFB Stadium
8 June 2024 (2024-06-08) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Belize   v   Nicaragua
Report
11 June 2024 (2024-06-11) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Guyana   v   Belize
Report

2025 edit

4 June 2025 (2025-06-04) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Montserrat   v   Belize
Report
7 June 2025 (2025-06-07) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Belize   v   Panama
Report

Coaching staff edit

Name Nat Position
David Perez Asensio   Head coach
Philip Marin   Technical director
Jack Striders   Technical director
Carlos Slusher   Assistant Head coach
Peter Jones   Assistant Head coach
Kent Gabourel Sr.   Goalkeeping coach
Shaun Woodmac   Physical Trainer
Thomas Rivars   Physiotherapist

Coaching history edit

Since the creation of the national team in 1995, several coaches have been in charge of managing Belize. From 1995 to 1996, Winston Michael was appointed as Belize's first ever manager. As of January 2012, the Belize national football team has had 11 managers.

Players edit

Current squad edit

The following players were called up for the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations matches against French Guiana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 16 and 20 November 2023.[6]

Caps and goals correct as of 17 October 2023, after the match against   Bermuda.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Charles Tillett (2001-07-29) 29 July 2001 (age 22) 12 0   Progresso
1GK Luisito Cunil (1989-11-01) 1 November 1989 (age 34) 0 0   Progresso
1GK Mateo Can 0 0   Benque D.C. United

2DF Evral Trapp (1987-01-22) 22 January 1987 (age 37) 49 0   Verdes
2DF Eugene Martínez (1997-10-20) 20 October 1997 (age 26) 9 1   Vancouver FC
2DF Deshawon Nembhard (1994-10-08) 8 October 1994 (age 29) 9 1   Tormenta
2DF Collin Westby (1995-02-19) 19 February 1995 (age 29) 8 0   Altitude
2DF Jahron Myvette (1995-05-09) 9 May 1995 (age 28) 4 0   Verdes
2DF Allan Barillas (1999-01-13) 13 January 1999 (age 25) 4 0   Altitude
2DF Makonnan Clare (1994-08-29) 29 August 1994 (age 29) 3 0   Dalton United
2DF Jaylen Lennan 0 0   Benque D.C. United
2DF Dedron Baptist 0 0   Progresso

3MF Nana-Yaw Amankwah-Mensah (1989-01-19) 19 January 1989 (age 35) 28 1   South Carolina United Heat
3MF Jordy Polanco (1996-06-08) 8 June 1996 (age 27) 23 2   Verdes
3MF Nahjib Guerra (1994-08-18) 18 August 1994 (age 29) 11 0   Benque Viejo United
3MF Eldon Reneau (2003-05-22) 22 May 2003 (age 20) 10 1   Verdes
3MF Warren Moss (1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 (age 24) 8 1   Indiana Tech Warriors
3MF Andir Chi (2000-11-17) 17 November 2000 (age 23) 5 0   Progresso
3MF Jovaunn Ramos (2002-03-24) 24 March 2002 (age 22) 5 0   University of Northwestern Ohio
3MF Alwin Zelaya (2001-08-29) 29 August 2001 (age 22) 1 0   Progresso
3MF Latrell Middleton (1999-11-03) 3 November 1999 (age 24) 0 0   Port Layola

4FW Michael Salazar (1992-11-15) 15 November 1992 (age 31) 22 3   Los Angeles Force
4FW Carlos Bernárdez (1992-12-28) 28 December 1992 (age 31) 13 2   Victoria
4FW Horace Ávila (1999-09-18) 18 September 1999 (age 24) 8 1   San Pedro Pirates
4FW Gilroy Thurton (1993-09-07) 7 September 1993 (age 30) 5 0   Port Layola
4FW Jonard Castillo (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 (age 24) 0 0   Belmopan Bandits

Recent call-ups edit

The following players have been called up within the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Kenroy Tillett (2001-09-20) 20 September 2001 (age 22) 0 0   Port Layola v.   Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
GK Earl Dyck (2003-10-21) 21 October 2003 (age 20) 0 0   South Carolina United Heat v.   Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023

DF Kyle Flowers (1993-03-24) 24 March 1993 (age 31) 3 0   Altitude v.   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023
DF Alence Ayala (1999-04-24) 24 April 1999 (age 24) 1 0   Verdes v.   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023
DF Donell Arzú (1999-09-27) 27 September 1999 (age 24) 8 0   Progresso v.   Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
DF Asrel Sutherland (1993-03-08) 8 March 1993 (age 31) 6 0   San Pedro Pirates v.   Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
DF Jordan Casanova (2004-04-30) 30 April 2004 (age 19) 1 0   Angelina College v.   Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023

MF Darrel Myvett (1993-12-15) 15 December 1993 (age 30) 12 0   Verdes v.   Bermuda; 17 October, 2023
MF Izon Gill (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 (age 24) 1 0   Verdes v.   Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
MF Trimayne Harris (1997-12-20) 20 December 1997 (age 26) 6 0   Verdes v.   Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
MF Denmark Casey (1994-01-14) 14 January 1994 (age 30) 25 1   Belmopan Bandits v.   Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023

FW Michael Palacio (2002-02-15) 15 February 2002 (age 22) 5 0   Port Layola v.   Bermuda; 17 October, 2023
FW Krisean López (1998-11-02) 2 November 1998 (age 25) 24 3   Platense v.   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023
FW Angelo Cappello (2002-01-27) 27 January 2002 (age 22) 7 1   Halifax Town v.   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023
FW Moisés Hernández (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 25) 0 0   San Pedro Pirates v.   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023

Records edit

As of 24 March 2024[7]
Players in bold are still active with Belize.

Most appearances edit

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Deon McCaulay 63 28 2007–present
2 Elroy Smith 61 6 2004–2019
3 Ian Gaynair 57 2 2007–2022
4 Evral Trapp 53 0 2010– present
5 Woodrow West 45 0 2008–present
6 Dalton Eiley 41 0 2005–2019
Daniel Jiménez 41 2 2008–2019
8 Harrison Róchez 40 5 2004–2019
9 Trevor Lennan 37 1 2005–2019
10 Elroy Kuylen 33 6 2009–2019

Top goalscorers edit

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Deon McCaulay 28 63 0.44 2007–present
2 Elroy Kuylen 6 33 0.18 2009–2019
Elroy Smith 6 61 0.1 2004–2019
4 Dion Frazer 5 8 0.63 2000–2008
Harrison Róchez 5 40 0.13 2004–2019
6 Norman Nuñez 3 11 0.27 1995–2005
Carlos Bernárdez 3 14 0.21 2019–present
Vallan Symms 3 20 0.15 2000–2011
Krisean Lopez 3 26 0.12 2018–present
Michael Salazar 3 23 0.13 2013–present

Competitive record edit

FIFA World Cup edit

FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D* L F A Pld W D L F A
1930 to 1978 Part of   United Kingdom Part of   United Kingdom
1982 and 1986 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
1990 and 1994 Did not enter Declined participation
  1998 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 6
    2002 4 0 1 3 2 10
  2006 2 0 0 2 0 8
  2010 4 1 1 2 4 11
  2014 8 4 1 3 17 13
  2018 6 2 3 1 7 6
  2022 3 1 0 2 5 5
      2026 To be determined To be determined
      2030
  2034
Total 0/9 29 8 6 15 37 59

CONCACAF Gold Cup edit

CONCACAF Championship & CONCACAF Gold Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
  1963 Part of   United Kingdom Part of   United Kingdom
  1965
  1967
  1969
  1971
  1973
  1977
  1981
1985 Not a CONCACAF member Not a CONCACAF member
1989 Did not enter Did not enter
  1991
    1993
  1996 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 5
  1998 2 0 1 1 1 2
  2000 2 0 0 2 1 12
  2002 2 0 1 1 3 7
    2003 Did not enter Did not enter
  2005 Did not qualify 3 0 0 3 0 7
  2007 3 0 0 3 3 7
  2009 3 0 1 2 3 7
  2011 3 0 1 2 3 8
  2013 Group stage 12th 3 0 0 3 1 11 Squad 5 1 1 3 2 4
    2015 Did not qualify 3 0 0 3 1 6
  2017 5 0 1 4 2 10
      2019 4 2 0 2 6 3
  2021 6 2 0 4 6 12
    2023 6 0 1 5 2 10
Total Group stage 1/18 3 0 0 3 1 11 49 5 5 39 34 100

CONCACAF Nations League edit

CONCACAF Nations League record
League phase Finals
Season LG Grp Pos. Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK Year Pos. Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
2019−20 B A 3rd 6 2 0 4 6 12   24th   2020 Did not qualify
2022–23 B D 4th 6 0 1 5 2 10   28th   2023
2023–24 B C 4th 6 2 1 3 5 7   29th   2024
2024–25 C To be determined   2025
Total 18 4 2 12 13 29 29th Total

Copa Centroamericana edit

Copa Centroamericana record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
  1991 Did not enter
  1993
  1995 Group stage 6th 2 0 0 2 1 5
  1997 Preliminary round 7th 2 0 1 1 1 2
  1999 Group stage 6th 2 0 0 2 1 12
  2001 6th 2 0 1 1 3 7
  2003 Did not enter
  2005 Group stage 7th 3 0 0 3 0 7
  2007 7th 3 0 0 3 3 7
  2009 7th 3 0 1 2 3 7
  2011 7th 3 0 1 2 3 8
  2013 Fourth place 4th 5 1 1 3 2 4
  2014 Group stage 7th 3 0 0 3 1 6
  2017 6th 5 0 1 4 2 10
Total Fourth place 10/13 30 1 6 23 19 69

The 1995 tournament in El Salvador saw Belize's international debut. They played the hosts in their first-ever international on November 29 in Group A. El Salvador won 3–0 with all goals coming in the second half.[8] On December 1, Belize scored their first-ever international goal as they lost 2–1 to Costa Rica and were eliminated from the tournament. Both other teams advanced to the semi-finals and were defeated there, Costa Rica's conqueror Honduras beat Guatemala in the final.

Head-to-head record edit

Updated on 21 November 2023 after match against   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[9]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

Opponent P W D L GF GA GF
  Bahamas 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4
  Barbados 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1
  Bermuda 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1
  Canada 5 0 1 4 1 14 −13
  Cayman Islands 2 0 2 0 1 1 0
  Costa Rica 6 0 0 6 1 18 −17
  Cuba 3 1 0 2 3 9 −6
  Dominican Republic 4 2 0 2 5 5 0
  El Salvador 10 0 0 10 6 29 −23
  French Guiana 6 3 1 2 6 4 +2
  Grenada 5 2 0 3 11 11 0
  Guatemala 13 0 4 9 10 23 −13
  Guyana 2 1 0 1 4 3 +1
  Haiti 1 0 0 1 0 2 –2
  Honduras 10 1 0 9 4 24 −20
  Jamaica 1 0 1 0 2 2 0
  Mexico 2 0 0 2 0 9 −9
  Montserrat 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4
  Nicaragua 12 4 3 5 19 21 –2
  Panama 6 0 2 4 3 10 −7
  Puerto Rico 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
  Saint Kitts and Nevis 4 2 1 1 5 6 −1
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6 2 2 2 6 7 –1
  Turks and Caicos Islands 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5
  Trinidad and Tobago 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
  United States 1 0 0 1 1 6 −5
Total 109 25 20 64 107 208 −101

References edit

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Belize". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  4. ^ Suspension of the Football Federation of Belize – FIFA
  5. ^ Iglesias, Rubén Morales. "Unleashing the power of The Jaguars: Football Federation of Belize reveals new Belize National Football Team logo by Rolando Ramirez". Breaking Belize News. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "Squad List". Facebook. Football Federation of Belize - FFB.
  7. ^ "Belize". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "Belize - List of International Matches". Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  9. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Belize". Elo Ratings. Retrieved October 24, 2018.

External links edit