Two international friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago on May 13 and 15 in Port of Spain will be the first hurdle for Guyana’s Golden Jaguars on the road to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Funding the airfare for that journey is the Government of Guyana, as part of their investment to ensure the team is given opportunities to prepare for the upcoming CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in June.

Twenty-four players, primarily based in Guyana, and six management staff will be in Trinidad from May 11.

The squad’s composition is based on Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz’s rationale of giving locally based players ample opportunities to showcase talent and seal a coveted spot for the qualifiers.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. stated that this investment will enhance the team’s preparation for the ultimate job in the coming weeks.

“The investment we are making in the Guyana national football team, we have never made this level of investment before [and] that is the reality,” the Minister informed at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Friday.

Noting the investment is being made in a “sensible way,” Ramson Jr. contended, “If we want to give ourselves an exceptional or distinct opportunity to succeed at the World Cup level, then they have to play better teams, and that is something we have been organising.”

The Minister further elaborated, “You can never improve your skills, teamwork, and capabilities if you are not playing against better teams…we want to take every opportunity that we can, within budget, to increase our opportunities.”

The Minister hinted that there could be additional preparation matches against Brazilian teams.

These are part of the efforts led by President Dr. Irfaan Ali to push for Guyana to qualify for the  FIFA World Cup, which Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America will co-host.

Guyana has a challenging journey through the Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Second Round from June 2024 to 2025.

Positioned in Group D alongside Panama, Nicaragua, Montserrat and Belize, the Golden Jaguars face formidable opposition in their quest.

Guyana will play four matches, evenly split between home and away fixtures in the second round, where the top two teams from each group advance.

In the third round, the twelve teams advancing from the second round will be drawn into three groups of four.

They will play double round-robin home-and-away matches, with the three group winners qualifying for the World Cup.

The two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs.