Trinidad and Tobago’s under-17 women’s football team concluded their DecembHER – Jewels of the Caribbean tournament campaign with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Future Stars XI on December 19 at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. The loss marked their third consecutive setback in the week-long invitational competition.
The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute when Pleasantville Secondary’s Mikaiah Guerero capitalized on a poorly defended set piece, slotting home from close range after Kyra Yee Loy’s dangerous left-side corner delivery. The national squad’s defensive vulnerability proved costly despite several opportunities to equalize.
Earlier in the tournament, the TT U-17 squad suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat against US-based Indy Premier SC on December 15 at Hasely Crawford Stadium, followed by a narrow 2-1 loss to Jamaica two days later at Sangre Grande Recreation Ground. The team’s performance throughout the competition yielded zero points, placing them at the bottom of their group.
Meanwhile, Indy Premier SC demonstrated remarkable dominance, concluding the group stage with a spectacular 5-0 victory over Jamaica in the Couva double-header. Five different players—Kori Brown, Olivia Jones, Isabella Moreno, Skylar Mueller, and Karringtyn Wilder—found the net, bringing Indy’s goal tally to 17 without conceding any throughout the tournament. This impressive performance secured their place in the December 21 final against Jamaica.
The SSFL Future Stars XI, despite previous heavy losses to Jamaica (5-2) and Indy Premier (8-0), managed to finish third in the group with three points. Their victory against the national team provided some consolation after challenging earlier matches.
Coach Ayana Russell’s squad now faces urgent reassessment as they prepare for the Concacaf qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to begin January 24. Trinidad and Tobago has been drawn in Group F alongside Barbados, Curacao, El Salvador, and Guadeloupe, with the group winner advancing automatically to the final round. The two best second-place teams from the six qualifying groups will also progress to the next stage.