Belize national football team

Belize
Nickname(s)The Jaguars
The Unbelizeables
AssociationFootball Federation of Belize
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationUNCAF (Central America)
Head coachDavid Pérez Asensio
CaptainIan Gaynair
Most capsElroy Smith (61)
Top scorerDeon McCaulay (28)
Home stadiumFFB Field
FIFA codeBLZ
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 173 3 (31 March 2022)[1]
Highest114 (April–June 2016)
Lowest201 (November 2007 – January 2008)
First international
 British Honduras 1–0 Honduras 
(British Honduras; February 19, 1928)
as Belize
 El Salvador 3–0 Belize 
(San Salvador, El Salvador; November 29, 1995)
Biggest win
 Belize 7–1 Nicaragua 
(Belize City, Belize; April 17, 2002)
Biggest defeat
 Costa Rica 7–0 Belize 
(San José, Costa Rica; March 17, 1999)
 Mexico 7–0 Belize 
(Monterrey, Mexico; June 21, 2008)
Gold Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2013)
Best resultGroup stage (2013)

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.

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

Overview

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.[2] 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

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.[3]

Stadium

FFB Field 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.

Schedule and recent results

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

2021

25 March WC 1st Round Qualifying Haiti  2–0  Belize Port-au-Prince, Haiti
17:00
  • Adé 50'
  • Séance 81'
Report Stadium: Stade Sylvio Cator
Referee: Walter López Castellanos (Guatemala)
4 June WC 1st Round Qualifying Nicaragua 3–0 Belize Managua, Nicaragua
19:00 UTC−6 Report Stadium: Nicaragua National Football Stadium
Referee: Nelson Salgado (Honduras)

2022

29 January Friendly Nicaragua  4–0  Belize Managua, Nicaragua
19:00 (UTC−6)
Report Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Ricardo Mendoza (Nicaragua)
1 February Friendly Nicaragua  1–1  Belize Managua, Nicaragua
19:00 (UTC−6) Report Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Félix Mojica (Nicaragua)
27 March Friendly Belize  0–3  Cuba Belmopan, Belize
Report
Stadium: FFB Stadium
2 June Nations League Belize  v  Dominican Republic Belize
Stadium: TBD
5 June Nations League Guatemala  v  Belize Guatemala
Stadium: TBD
10 June Nations League Belize  v  French Guiana Belize
Stadium: TBD
13 June Nations League French Guiana  v  Belize French Guiana
Stadium: TBD

2023

24 March Nations League Belize  v  Guatemala Belize
Stadium: TBD
27 March Nations League Dominican Republic  v  Belize Dominican Republic
Stadium: TBD

Coaching staff

Name Nat Position
Dale Pelayo Sr. 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

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

Current squad

The following players were called up for friendlies against Nicaragua on 29 January and 1 February 2022.[4]

Caps and goals updated as of 1 February 2022, after the game against Nicaragua.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Woodrow West (1985-09-19) 19 September 1985 44 0 Verdes
1GK Charles Tillett (2001-07-29) 29 July 2001 1 0 Verdes
1GK Isaac Castillo (2003-01-25) 25 January 2003 0 0 Garden City

2DF Ian Gaynair (1986-02-26) 26 February 1986 57 2 Belmopan Bandits
2DF Evral Trapp (1987-01-22) 22 January 1987 38 0 Verdes
2DF Norman Anderson (1997-01-25) 25 January 1997 10 0 Verdes
2DF Collin Westby (1995-02-19) 19 February 1995 6 0 Altitude
2DF Donell Arzu (1999-09-27) 27 September 1999 3 0 Wagiya
2DF Deshawon Nembhard (1994-10-08) 8 October 1994 3 1 Stumptown
2DF Alence Ayala (1999-04-24) 24 April 1999 1 0 Verdes
2DF Allan Barillas (1999-01-13) 13 January 1999 0 0 Altitude

3MF Denmark Casey Jr. (1994-01-14) 14 January 1994 22 1 Garden City
3MF Nana Mensah (1989-01-19) 19 January 1989 21 0 Morris Elite
3MF Jordy Polanco (1996-06-08) 8 June 1996 17 0 Verdes
3MF Luis Torres (1993-02-03) 3 February 1993 6 0 Altitude
3MF Darrel Myvett (1993-12-15) 15 December 1993 5 0 Verdes
3MF Warren Moss (1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 0 0 Wagiya
3MF Eldon Reneau (2003-05-22) 22 May 2003 0 0 Verdes
3MF Rene Leslie (1999-12-12) 12 December 1999 0 0 Altitude

4FW Deon McCaulay (captain) (1987-09-20) 20 September 1987 58 28 Georgia Revolution
4FW Michael Salazar (1992-11-15) 15 November 1992 17 2 LA Galaxy II
4FW Krisean Lopez (1998-11-02) 2 November 1998 15 3 Verdes
4FW Carlos Bernárdez (1992-12-28) 28 December 1992 6 2 Platense
4FW Jesse August (1994-01-22) 22 January 1994 3 1 Altitude

Recent call-ups

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

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up

DF Jordan Casanova (2004-04-30) 30 April 2004 1 0 San Pedro Pirates v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021
DF Asrel Sutherland (1993-03-08) 8 March 1993 3 0 San Pedro Pirates v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE
DF José Urbina (1995-02-13) 13 February 1995 1 0 Altitude v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE

MF Ean Lewis (1991-02-25) 25 February 1991 5 1 Belize Defence Force v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021
MF Izon Gill (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 1 0 Verdes v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021
MF Jahlin Pelayo (2001-08-29) 29 August 2001 0 0 Belmopan Bandits v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021
MF Andrés Makin (1992-04-11) 11 April 1992 25 0 Belmopan Bandits v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE
MF Nahjib Guerra (1994-08-18) 18 August 1994 10 0 Verdes v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE
MF Tony Rocha (1993-08-21) 21 August 1993 3 0 Orange County v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE
MF Angelo Capello (2002-01-27) 27 January 2002 2 0 Sheffield United U23s v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE
MF Jesse Smith (1991-11-24) 24 November 1991 1 0 San Pedro Pirates v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE

FW Gilroy Thurton (1993-09-07) 7 September 1993 4 0 Wagiya v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021
FW Desmond Wade (1997-08-31) 31 August 1997 1 0 Belize Defence Force v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE
FW Jonard Castillo (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 0 0 Wagiya v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE
FW Carlos Gonzalez (1999-07-27) 27 July 1999 0 0 Belmopan Bandits v.  Nicaragua; 4 June 2021 PRE

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary / Standby squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Records

As of 1 February 2022
Players in bold are still active with Belize.

Competition records

World Cup record

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982 Did not enter Declined participation
1986
1990
1994
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
Total 0/22 29 8 6 15 37 59

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record

CONCACAF Championship & CONCACAF Gold Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1963Part of  United Kingdom
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1977
1981Did not exist
1985
1989
1991
1993
1996Did not qualify
1998
2000
2002
2003Did not enter
2005Did not qualify
2007
2009
2011
2013 Group stage 12th 3 0 0 3 1 11
2015 Did not qualify
2017
2019
2021
Total Group stage 1/16 3 0 0 3 1 11

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
Year Division Group Pld W D* L GF GA P/R Rank
2019−20 B A 6 2 0 4 6 12 24th
2022–23 B D To be determined
Total 6 2 0 4 6 12 24th

Copa Centroamericana

Copa Centroamericana record
Year Round Position GP W D L GF GA
1991Did not exist
1993Did not exist
1995Group Stage6th200215
1997Preliminary7th201112
1999Group Stage6th2002112
2001Group Stage6th201137
2003Did not enter
2005Group Stage7th300307
2007Group Stage7th300337
2009Group Stage7th301237
2011Group Stage7th301238
2013Fourth Place4th511324
2014Group Stage7th300316
2017Group Stage6th5014210
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.[5] 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

Updated on 1 February 2022 after match against  Nicaragua[6]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

OpponentPWDLGFGAGF
 Bahamas 110040+4
 Barbados 211010+1
 Canada 5014114−13
 Cayman Islands 2020110
 Costa Rica 6006118−17
 Cuba 210136−3
 Dominican Republic 220051+4
 El Salvador 100010629−23
 French Guiana 110020+2
 Grenada 520311110
 Guatemala 11047919−10
 Guyana 210143+1
 Haiti 100102–2
 Honduras 10109424−20
 Jamaica 1010220
 Mexico 200209−9
 Montserrat 320184+4
 Nicaragua 124351921–2
 Panama 6024310−7
 Puerto Rico 110010+1
 Saint Kitts and Nevis 421156−1
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 422052+3
 Turks and Caicos Islands 110050+5
 Trinidad and Tobago 2020000
 United States 100116−5
Total96231855101188−87

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  2. "World Football Elo Ratings: Belize". Elo Ratings. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  3. Suspension of the Football Federation of Belize – FIFA
  4. "Belize Men's National Football Team is already in training at FFB in Belmopan to face Guatemala, Nicaragua next week". Breaking Belize News.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "World Football Elo Ratings: Belize". Elo Ratings. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
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