Trinidad and Tobago football clubs in international competition

Trinidad and Tobago football clubs have entered international competitions since 1967, when Regiment of the Port of Spain Football League took part in the 1967 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.[1] Since the nation's first international club competition, several association football clubs from Trinidad and Tobago have entered North America, Central America, and Caribbean competitions (CONCACAF Champions' Cup/Champions League and CFU Club Championship).

The CONCACAF Champions' Cup started in 1962, but there was no Trinidad and Tobago representative during that inaugural season as the competition was open to eight teams from seven countries: Netherlands Antilles, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and México. Since their first appearance, Trinidad and Tobago clubs have claimed the Champions' Cup on two occasions with Defence Force winning the title in 1978 and again in 1985 in the Teteron Boys' treble-winning season.[1]

Since the establishment of the CFU Club Championship in 1997, clubs from the Caribbean Islands that are members of the Caribbean Football Union, have competed in the region's qualification tournament for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Champions League. The first club to compete in the regional competition was United Petrotrin of the Semi-Professional League. The Oilmen won the inaugural tournament after defeating Seba United of Jamaica 2–1 to advance to the 1997 Champions' Cup. Since the country's first appearance in the CFU Club Championship, Trinidad and Tobago clubs have claimed the title on eleven occasions with an additional nine runners-up finishes.

Qualification for continental competitions

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Competition Qualifiers Notes
CFU Club Championship Club finishing as the TT Pro League champions Clubs enter competition in the first round
Club finishing as the TT Pro League runners-up

Champions of continental competitions

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CONCACAF
Champions League
Caribbean
Club Championship
1978 – Defence Force 1997 – United Petrotrin
1985 – Defence Force (2) 1998 – Joe Public
2000 – Joe Public (2)
2001 – Defence Force
2002 – W Connection
2003 – San Juan Jabloteh
2006 – W Connection (2)
2009 – W Connection (3)
2012 – Caledonia AIA
2015 – Central FC
2016 – Central FC (2)

Full continental competition record

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CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Champions League

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Season Team Progress Score Opponents Venue(s)
1962 None entered
1963 None entered
1967 Regiment 2nd in group stage   CRKSV Jong Colombia,   Regiment,   Somerset Trojans,   Racing Club Haïtien
1968 None entered
1969 None entered
1970 Maple Club First round 1–4   Transvaal
1971 None entered
1972 None entered
1973 None entered
1974 None entered
1975 None entered
1976 Tesoro Palo Seco Second round 1–6   Voorwaarts
Malvern United Second round 0–2   Robinhood
1977 Defence Force First round 0–4   Violette
TECSA Fourth round 2–4   Robinhood
1978 TECSA First round 2–3   Voorwaarts
Defence Force Winners 4–1   Voorwaarts
1979 Tesoro Palo Seco Third round w/o   Robinhood
Defence Force Third round 2–3   CRKSV Jong Colombia
1980 Police First round 2–4   Transvaal
Defence Force Second round w/o   Robinhood
1981 Memphis First round 0–3   SUBT
Defence Force First round w/o   Transvaal
1982 Tesoro Palo Seco First round w/o   SUBT
Defence Force Third round 3–6   Robinhood
1983 Defence Force First round 1–3   Robinhood
Memphis First round 4–5   SUBT
1984 Defence Force First round w/o   Violette
1985 Defence Force Winners 2–1   Olimpia 2–0 at National Stadium, 0–1 at Estadio Francisco Morazán
1986 Sirocco First round 2–4   Trintoc
Trintoc Semifinals 4–4 (3–4p)   Transvaal
1987 Trintoc Semifinals 2–3   Defence Force
Defence Force Final 1–3   América 1–1 at National Stadium, 0–2 at Estadio Azteca
1988 Trintoc First round 1–2   Excelsior
Defence Force Final 0–4   Olimpia 0–2 at Estadio Excélsior, 0–2 at Estadio Nacional
1989 Defence Force 3rd in group stage   FC Pinar del Río,   Trintoc,   Juventus,   CRKSV Jong Colombia
Trintoc 2nd in group stage   FC Pinar del Río,   Defence Force,   Juventus,   CRKSV Jong Colombia
1990 None entered
1991 Defence Force Third round 2–3   Police
Police Final 2–4   Puebla 1–3 at Estadio Cuauhtémoc, 1–1 at Skinner Park
1992 Trintoc First round 1–2   Transvaal
Mayaro United Second round 1–2   Robinhood
1993 Hawks First round w/o   Sithoc
Trintoc Semifinals 0–1   Robinhood
1994 None entered
1995 None entered
1996 None entered
1997 United Petrotrin Quarterfinals 0–1   D.C. United Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
1998 Joe Public Quarterfinals 0–8   D.C. United Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
1999 Joe Public Quarterfinals 0–2   Chicago Fire Soldier Field
2000 Joe Public Quarterfinals 0–1   Pachuca Titan Stadium
2002 W Connection Round of 16 0–3   Kansas City Wizards 0–1 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 0–2 at Arrowhead Stadium
Defence Force Round of 16 1–4   Pachuca 1–0 at Hasely Crawford Stadium, 0–4 at Estadio Hidalgo
2003 W Connection Round of 16 5–6   Toluca 3–3 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 2–3 at Estadio Nemesio Díez
2004 San Juan Jabloteh Quarterfinals 5–6   Chicago Fire 5–2 at Hasely Crawford Stadium, 0–4 at Soldier Field
2005 No clubs qualified for competition
2006 No clubs qualified for competition
2007 W Connection Quarterfinals 2–4   Guadalajara 2–1 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 0–3 at Estadio Jalisco
2008 No clubs qualified for competition
2008–09 Joe Public 4th in group stage   Atlante,   Montreal Impact,   Olimpia
2009–10 San Juan Jabloteh 4th in group stage   Toluca,   Marathón,   D.C. United
W Connection 3rd in group stage   UNAM,   Comunicaciones,   Real España
2010–11 San Juan Jabloteh Preliminary round 0–6   Santos Laguna 0–1 at Marvin Lee Stadium, 0–5 at Estadio Corona
Joe Public 4th in group stage   Santos Laguna,   Columbus Crew,   Municipal
2011–12 No clubs qualified for competition
2012–13 Caledonia AIA 3rd in group stage   Seattle Sounders FC,   Marathón
W Connection 3rd in group stage   Xelajú,   Guadalajara
2013–14 W Connection 3rd in group stage   Árabe Unido,   Houston Dynamo
Caledonia AIA 3rd in group stage   Comunicaciones,   Toluca
2014–15 No clubs qualified for competition
2015–16 Central FC 2nd in group stage   C.S.D. Comunicaciones,   LA Galaxy
W Connection 3rd in group stage   Deportivo Saprissa,   Santos Laguna
2016–17 Central FC
W Connection

CFU Club Championship

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Season Team Progress Score Opponents Venue(s)
1997 United Petrotrin Winners 2–1   Seba United Palo Seco Velodrome
1998 San Juan Jabloteh Quarterfinals 0–2   Aiglon du Lamentin National Stadium
Caledonia AIA Final 0–1   Joe Public Marvin Lee Stadium
Joe Public Winners 1–0   Caledonia AIA Marvin Lee Stadium
2000 W Connection 2nd in final round   Joe Public,   Harbour View,   Carioca FC
Joe Public Winners   W Connection,   Harbour View,   Carioca FC
2001 W Connection 1st in final round   Racing Club Haïtien,   CRKSV Jong Colombia
Defence Force Winners   Suriname National Lager,   Roulado
2002 W Connection Winners   Harbour View,   US Robert
2003 W Connection Final 3–3 (2–4p)   San Juan Jabloteh 1–2 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 2–1 at Hasely Crawford Stadium
San Juan Jabloteh Winners 3–3 (4–2p)   W Connection 2–1 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 1–2 at Hasely Crawford Stadium
2004 San Juan Jabloteh Semifinals 1–2   Tivoli Gardens 1–1 at Hasely Crawford Stadium, 0–1 at Railway Oval
2005 North East Stars Quarterfinals w/o   Robinhood
2006 San Juan Jabloteh Final 0–1   W Connection Manny Ramjohn Stadium
W Connection Winners 1–0   San Juan Jabloteh Manny Ramjohn Stadium
2007 San Juan Jabloteh Third place 0–1   Puerto Rico Islanders 0–1 at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel, 0–0 at Hasely Crawford Stadium
Joe Public Final 1–2   Harbour View Marvin Lee Stadium
2009 San Juan Jabloteh Third place 2–1   Tempête Marvin Lee Stadium
W Connection Winners 2–1   Puerto Rico Islanders Marvin Lee Stadium
2010 San Juan Jabloteh 3rd in final round   Puerto Rico Islanders,   Joe Public,   Bayamón FC
Joe Public 2nd in final round   Puerto Rico Islanders,   San Juan Jabloteh,   Bayamón FC
2011 Caledonia AIA Second round 1–1 (2–3p)   Tempête 0–1 at Ato Boldon Stadium, 1–0 at Parc Levelt
Defence Force Semifinals 0–0 (2–4p)   Tempête Providence Stadium
2012 W Connection Final 1–1 (3–4p)   Caledonia AIA Manny Ramjohn Stadium
Caledonia AIA Winners 1–1 (4–3p)   W Connection Manny Ramjohn Stadium
2013 Caledonia AIA Playoff round 3–2   Portmore United 1–0 at Hasely Crawford Stadium, 2–2 at Ato Boldon Stadium
W Connection 1st in final round   Caledonia AIA,   Antigua Barracuda FC
2014 Caledonia AIA 2nd in first round   Mirebalais,   Waterhouse,   Inter Moengotapoe
Defence Force 2nd in first round   Alpha United FC,   Harbour View
2015 Central FC Winners 2–1   W Connection Ato Boldon Stadium
W Connection Final 1–2   Central FC Ato Boldon Stadium
2016 Central FC Winners 3–0   W Connection Stade Sylvio Cator
W Connection Final 0–3   Central FC Stade Sylvio Cator

TT Pro League international performance

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Since the inaugural season of the TT Pro League in 1999, the league champion and runners-up have entered the CFU Club Championship to earn qualification in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup/Champions League. The first Pro League club to compete in international competition was Joe Public when the club entered the 1999 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. However, the Eastern Lions qualified for the competition through the 1998 CFU Club Championship as a member of the Semi-Professional League the previous season. The 2000 CFU Club Championship was the first occurrence of clubs having earned qualification through final position in the Pro League. Defence Force entered as the 1999 Pro League champion, W Connection as runners-up, and Joe Public as the CFU Club Championship holders. Joe Public won the competition to provide the Pro League with its first international championship.

Pro League clubs have won the CFU Club Championship for Caribbean-based clubs on eleven occasions and nine additional runners-up finishes. However, no Pro League club has won the Champions' Cup or Champions League. The best performance occurred in the 2000, 2004, and 2007 Champions' Cup when Joe Public, San Juan Jabloteh, and W Connection, respectively, entered the quarterfinal round.

CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Champions League

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Note: The CONCACAF Champions' Cup began in 1962 and was renamed the CONCACAF Champions League in 2008–09 (abbreviated here to 2009). Trinidad and Tobago clubs began entering the continental competition in 1967. After the inauguration of the TT Pro League in 1999, teams from the Pro League were playing in CONCACAF competition during that season (abbreviated to 2009), even though they had actually qualified through the old Semi-Professional League the previous season.

Trinidad and Tobago finalists (1962–present)

For comparison, this table shows how Trinidad and Tobago clubs have performed at the top level of CONCACAF football before the TT Pro League era. Defence Force remains the only team from Trinidad and Tobago to win the Champions' Cup in 1978 and 1985.[1] Since the Teteron Boys' treble-winning season, the best performance by a Trinidad and Tobago team came in 1987 and 1988 when Defence Force, and again in 1991 when Police finished as runners-up.

Club Winners Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runners-up
  Defence Force 2 2 1978, 1985 1987, 1988
  Police 0 1 1991
All finalists performance by club (1962–present)

On this table, covering before and during the TT Pro League era, the best-performing ten clubs are listed. Pro League club, Defence Force, is tied for ninth best-performing club in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Champions League.

Club Winners Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-up
  Cruz Azul 5 2 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997 2009, 2010
  América 5 0 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006
  Pachuca 4 0 2002, 2007, 2008, 2010
  Saprissa 3 2 1993, 1995, 2005 2004, 2008
  UNAM 3 1 1980, 1982, 1989 2005
  Monterrey 3 0 2011, 2012, 2013
  Transvaal 2 3 1973, 1981 1974, 1975, 1986
  Alajuelense 2 3 1986, 2004 1971, 1992, 1999
  Olimpia 2 2 1972, 1988 1985, 2000
  Toluca 2 2 1968, 2003 1998, 2006
  Defence Force 2 2 1978, 1985 1987, 1988
All finalists performance by nation

For comparison, the following tables show the performance of all finalists in CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Champions League before and during the TT Pro League era. Although Trinidad and Tobago clubs performed well before the establishment of the TT Pro League, professional clubs have not reached the final of the continental competition.

Trinidad and Tobago performance (1962–present)
Nation Winners Runners-up
  Mexico 29 14
  Costa Rica 6 5
  El Salvador 3 1
  Suriname 2 8
  Guatemala 2 3
  Honduras 2 3
  Trinidad and Tobago 2 3
  United States 2 2
  Haiti 2 0
  Cuba 0 2
  Curaçao 0 2
TT Pro League performance (2000–present)
Nation Winners Runners-up
  Mexico 10 9
  Costa Rica 2 2
  United States 1 1
  Honduras 0 1
  Trinidad and Tobago 0 0

CFU Club Championship

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The Caribbean Football Union established the Caribbean Club Championship in 1997 as a qualification tournament for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup (later renamed the Champions League). The inaugural season of the TT Pro League was in 1999, so teams entering the regional competition based on Pro League finish began in 2000.

TT Pro League finalists (2000–present)

This table shows how Trinidad and Tobago clubs have performed in the CFU Club Championship since the start of the TT Pro League era. The table is currently headed by W Connection, with three wins, followed by Central FC (2), Morvant Caledonia United (1), Defence Force (1), Joe Public (1), and San Juan Jabloteh (1).

Club Winners Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runners-up
  W Connection 3 6 2002, 2006, 2009 2000, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2016
  Central FC 2 0 2015, 2016
  Joe Public 1 2 2000 2007, 2010
  San Juan Jabloteh 1 1 2003 2006
  Morvant Caledonia United 1 0 2012
  Defence Force 1 0 2001
Trinidad and Tobago finalists (1997–present)

This table combines the Trinidad and Tobago totals before and during the TT Pro League era. It shows that thanks to its earlier win in 1998, Joe Public, with two wins, have moved into second place, but still trail behind W Connection with three wins.

Club Winners Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runners-up
  W Connection 3 6 2002, 2006, 2009 2000, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2016
  Joe Public 2 2 1998, 2000 2007, 2010
  Central FC 2 0 2015, 2016
  Morvant Caledonia United 1 1 2012 1998
  San Juan Jabloteh 1 1 2003 2006
  Defence Force 1 0 2001
  United Petrotrin 1 0 1997
All finalists' performance by club (1997–present)

On this table, covering before and during the TT Pro League era, the best-performing Pro League club, W Connection, is also the best-performing club in the CFU Club Championship ahead of fellow Pro League clubs Joe Public and Central FC, Puerto Rico Islanders, and Jamaican club Harbour View.

Club Winners Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runners-up
  W Connection 3 6 2002, 2006, 2009 2000, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2016
  Joe Public 2 2 1998, 2000 2007, 2010
  Puerto Rico Islanders 2 1 2010, 2011 2009
  Central FC 2 0 2015, 2016
  Harbour View 2 0 2004, 2007
  Morvant Caledonia United 1 1 2012 1998
  San Juan Jabloteh 1 1 2003 2006
  Portmore United 1 0 2005
  Defence Force 1 0 2001
  United Petrotrin 1 0 1997
  Tempête 0 1 2011
  Robinhood 0 1 2005
  Tivoli Gardens 0 1 2004
  Arnett Gardens 0 1 2002
  Seba United 0 1 1997
All finalists' performance by nation

For comparison, the following tables show the performance of all finalists in the CFU Club Championship before and during the TT Pro League era, when Trinidad and Tobago were narrowly in first place in terms of number of wins, compared to having by far the most finalists compared to other nations.

Trinidad and Tobago performance (1997–present)
Nation Winners Runners-up
  Trinidad and Tobago 11 10
  Jamaica 3 3
  Puerto Rico 2 1
  Haiti 0 1
  Suriname 0 1
TT Pro League performance (2000–present)
Nation Winners Runners-up
  Trinidad and Tobago 9 9
  Jamaica 3 2
  Puerto Rico 2 1
  Haiti 0 1
  Suriname 0 1

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Trinidad and Tobago – List of Champions". Radek Jelínekm, Hans Schöggl and RSSSF. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-07-31.