Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

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

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

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

CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Champions League

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

CFU Club Championship

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

TT Pro League international performance

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

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
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force 2 2 1978, 1985 1987, 1988
Trinidad and Tobago 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
Mexico Cruz Azul 5 2 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997 2009, 2010
Mexico América 5 0 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006
Mexico Pachuca 4 0 2002, 2007, 2008, 2010
Costa Rica Saprissa 3 2 1993, 1995, 2005 2004, 2008
Mexico UNAM 3 1 1980, 1982, 1989 2005
Mexico Monterrey 3 0 2011, 2012, 2013
Suriname Transvaal 2 3 1973, 1981 1974, 1975, 1986
Costa Rica Alajuelense 2 3 1986, 2004 1971, 1992, 1999
Honduras Olimpia 2 2 1972, 1988 1985, 2000
Mexico Toluca 2 2 1968, 2003 1998, 2006
Trinidad and Tobago 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 Mexico 29 14
Costa Rica Costa Rica 6 5
El Salvador El Salvador 3 1
Suriname Suriname 2 8
Guatemala Guatemala 2 3
Honduras Honduras 2 3
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 2 3
 United States 2 2
Haiti Haiti 2 0
Cuba Cuba 0 2
Curaçao Curaçao 0 2
TT Pro League performance (2000–present)
Nation Winners Runners-up
Mexico Mexico 10 9
Costa Rica Costa Rica 2 2
 United States 1 1
Honduras Honduras 0 1
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 0 0

CFU Club Championship

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
Trinidad and Tobago W Connection 3 6 2002, 2006, 2009 2000, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2016
Trinidad and Tobago Central FC 2 0 2015, 2016
Trinidad and Tobago Joe Public 1 2 2000 2007, 2010
Trinidad and Tobago San Juan Jabloteh 1 1 2003 2006
Trinidad and Tobago Morvant Caledonia United 1 0 2012
Trinidad and Tobago 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
Trinidad and Tobago W Connection 3 6 2002, 2006, 2009 2000, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2016
Trinidad and Tobago Joe Public 2 2 1998, 2000 2007, 2010
Trinidad and Tobago Central FC 2 0 2015, 2016
Trinidad and Tobago Morvant Caledonia United 1 1 2012 1998
Trinidad and Tobago San Juan Jabloteh 1 1 2003 2006
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force 1 0 2001
Trinidad and Tobago 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
Trinidad and Tobago W Connection 3 6 2002, 2006, 2009 2000, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2015, 2016
Trinidad and Tobago Joe Public 2 2 1998, 2000 2007, 2010
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Islanders 2 1 2010, 2011 2009
Trinidad and Tobago Central FC 2 0 2015, 2016
Jamaica Harbour View 2 0 2004, 2007
Trinidad and Tobago Morvant Caledonia United 1 1 2012 1998
Trinidad and Tobago San Juan Jabloteh 1 1 2003 2006
Jamaica Portmore United 1 0 2005
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force 1 0 2001
Trinidad and Tobago United Petrotrin 1 0 1997
Haiti Tempête 0 1 2011
Suriname Robinhood 0 1 2005
Jamaica Tivoli Gardens 0 1 2004
Jamaica Arnett Gardens 0 1 2002
Jamaica 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 Trinidad and Tobago 11 10
Jamaica Jamaica 3 3
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 2 1
Haiti Haiti 0 1
Suriname Suriname 0 1
TT Pro League performance (2000–present)
Nation Winners Runners-up
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 9 9
Jamaica Jamaica 3 2
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 2 1
Haiti Haiti 0 1
Suriname Suriname 0 1

References

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