Grenada national football team

The Grenada national football team represents Grenada in international football, and is controlled by the Grenada Football Association, a member of the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF. The team is nicknamed The Spice Boys, a reference to the country being nicknamed the "Island of Spice" or the "Spice Isle".

Grenada
Nickname(s)The Spice Boys
AssociationGrenada Football Association
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationCFU (Caribbean)
Head coachTerry Connor
CaptainSaydrel Lewis
Most capsCassim Langaigne (72)
Top scorerRicky Charles (37)
Home stadiumKirani James Stadium
FIFA codeGRN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 173 1 (20 June 2024)[1]
Highest88 (July 2009)
Lowest176 (December 2007)
First international
 Grenada 2–1 British Guiana 
(Grenada; 13 October 1934)
Biggest win
 Grenada 14–1 Anguilla 
(St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda; 15 April 1998)
Biggest defeat
 Curaçao 10–0 Grenada 
(Willemstad, Curaçao; 10 September 2018)
Gold Cup
Appearances3 (first in 2009)
Best resultGroup stage (2009, 2011, 2021)

Grenada has never qualified for the World Cup but have finished second in the Caribbean Cup in 1989 and 2008. Their second-place finish in the 2008 Caribbean Cup gave Grenada its first qualification to a major international competition, that being the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

History

Beginnings and early tournaments (1934–1989)

Grenada played its first international match, on 13 October 1934, against British Guiana, which they defeated 2–1. They played British Guiana twice, Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis before the Second World War started in 1939, winning all of those contests.

In 1961, Grenada participated in the Windward Islands Tournament, losing their opening game to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6–3, but winning their next two matches against Saint Lucia 4–0 and Dominica 8–1 to win the tournament. Grenada won the tournament again the following year, beating Saint Vincent 2–1 in the final, and for four consecutive years from 1967 to 1970.

Grenada played their first competitive match in the 1979 CFU Championship qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago, losing 3–1 on aggregate. Grenada entered the 1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification but lost in the preliminary round to Guyana 8–4 over two legs. Their next competitive match came in the 1985 CFU Championship qualifiers, but they lost both matches and failed to progress past the first round. Grenada had more success in the CFU Championship's successor tournament, reaching the 1989 Caribbean Cup final before losing 2–1 to Trinidad and Tobago.

Caribbean Cup and qualifiers (1990–2010)

Grenada qualified for the 1990 Caribbean Cup but lost again to Trinidad and Tobago, this time 5–0 before drawing with Jamaica 0–0 therefore failing to advance. In the qualifiers for the 1994 Caribbean Cup, Grenada was eliminated by Barbados in an infamous match where Barbados purposefully scored an own-goal in order to force overtime and help them to advance, which they did. Grenada qualified to the 1997 Caribbean Cup, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Saint Kitts and Nevis. Grenada entered the 1998 World Cup qualifiers but after getting through the preliminary round by beating Guyana 8–1 on aggregate, they lost 7–1 over two legs to Haiti.

In the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, Grenada was knocked out by Barbados who won with a tight 5–4 aggregate score. They were luckier four years later in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, once again eliminating Guyana (8–1 on aggregate) in the first round before falling to the USA who edged them 6–2. Granada would close this decade with a new World Cup disappointment, in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, being eliminated by Costa Rica 5–2.

Gold Cup

Nineteen years after finishing runner-up in the 1989 Caribbean Cup, the Spice Boyz once again reached the final, in the 2008 edition, although they lost to the hosts, Jamaica 2–0. However, this result allowed them to qualify for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time, however Grenada failed to score a goal in the competition whilst conceding ten times and collecting no points. In the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Grenada reached the semi-finals before again being eliminated by Jamaica though their performance earned them qualification for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup but they again failed to capitalise, losing all three group matches and scoring only a single goal.

2012–present

Since 2012, Grenada have not managed to progress to the Caribbean Cup or the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, they finished bottom of their qualifying group despite being the top seed, then in 2018 World Cup qualification they were eliminated by Haiti in the third round.

In the 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying, Grenada suffered its largest ever defeat, losing 10–0 against Curaçao. They'd eventually qualify for League B before earning promotion to League A for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League competition.

Results and fixtures

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   Fixture

2023

8 September 2023–24 Nations League Grenada  1–1  Suriname St. George's, Grenada
19:00 UTC−4
  • Lewis 85'
Report Stadium: Kirani James Athletic Stadium
Referee: Kwinsi Williams (Trinidad and Tobago)
12 October 2023 2023–24 Nations League Grenada  1–4  Jamaica St. George's, Grenada
19:00 UTC−4
  • Williams 30'
Report Stadium: Kirani James Athletic Stadium
Referee: Joseph Dickerson (United States)
15 October 2023 2023–24 Nations League Suriname  4–0  Grenada Paramaribo, Suriname
21:00 UTC−3
Report Stadium: Frank Essed Stadion
Attendance: 1,285
Referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

2024

26 May Friendly Grenada  0–3  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Carriacou, Grenada
Report Stadium: Carriacou Mini Stadium

2025

Coaching staff

Position Name
Technical director Gifton Noel Williams
Head coach Terry Connor
Assistant coaches Ryan Cummings
Graeme Constance
Jamal Trafford
Fitness coaches Hayden Roberts
Luther Jeffords
Physiotherapists James Neil
Denzel Daniels
Khalil Stevens
Team doctors Lawrence Cooper
Andrew Sherman
Masseur Adam Courts
Osteopath Wesley Lewis
Team nutritionists Rebecca Pembroke
Graham Murray
Team cookers Timothy Hogg
Alvin Marshall
Jessica Mitchell
LeRoy Hendricks
Rashid Goodwin
Team coordinator Marcellus Henshaw
Technical director Gary Hudson
Head of delegation Raymond Bullock

Coaching history

*Player-coach

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica on 5 and 9 June 2024.[2]

Caps and goals correct as of 5 June 2024, after the match against Trinidad and Tobago.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Jason Belfon (1990-07-03) 3 July 1990 52 0 All Saints United
1GK Trishawn Thomas (2003-01-25) 25 January 2003 2 0 Queens Park Rangers
1GK Chad Phillip (2000-08-09) 9 August 2000 0 0 FC Camerhogne

2DF Benjamin Ettienne (2003-03-13) 13 March 2003 16 0 Charleston Battery
2DF Kayden Harrack (2003-11-05) 5 November 2003 12 0 Morecambe
2DF Josh Gabriel (1999-11-30) 30 November 1999 11 0 SV Wilhelmshaven
2DF Omar Beckles (1991-10-25) 25 October 1991 8 0 Leyton Orient
2DF Dorrel Pierre (1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 4 1 Paradise
2DF Brady Charles (2001-11-05) 5 November 2001 0 0 University of Maine at Fort Kent

3MF Kwazim Theodore (1996-01-12) 12 January 1996 40 1 All Saints United
3MF Steffon Abraham (1999-12-29) 29 December 1999 16 0 Paradise
3MF Trevon Williams (1994-12-11) 11 December 1994 11 1 Queens Park Rangers
3MF Myles Hippolyte (1994-11-09) 9 November 1994 3 3 Wimbledon
3MF Keishon Clarke (2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 1 0 Paradise
3MF Jamie Kabuusu (2006-04-19) 19 April 2006 0 0 New England Revolution II

4FW Jamal Charles (1995-11-24) 24 November 1995 37 17 Paradise
4FW Shavon John-Brown (1995-04-13) 13 April 1995 37 4 Central Valley Fuego
4FW Saydrel Lewis (captain) (1997-11-27) 27 November 1997 37 8 Paradise
4FW Romar Frank (1996-09-28) 28 September 1996 28 1 Camerhogne
4FW Jermaine Francis (2002-03-15) 15 March 2002 5 0 Barnet
4FW Darius Johnson (2000-03-15) 15 March 2000 5 0 Volendam
4FW Lucas Akins (1989-02-25) 25 February 1989 1 0 Mansfield Town
4FW Vijay Valcin (2005-07-20) 20 July 2005 0 0 St. John's

Recent call-ups

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

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Reice Charles-Cook (1994-04-08) 8 April 1994 7 0 Welling United v.  Suriname; 15 October 2023

DF Kimron Marshall (1993-02-28) 28 February 1993 18 1 Camerhogne v.  Suriname; 15 October 2023
DF Ryhim Griffith (2001-05-12) 12 May 2001 3 0 Camerhogne v.  Suriname; 15 October 2023

MF Ethan Telesford (2003-11-13) 13 November 2003 6 0 GBSS v.  Suriname; 15 October 2023

FW Kairo Mitchell (1997-10-21) 21 October 1997 16 3 Rochdale v.  Suriname; 15 October 2023
FW Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (1997-03-27) 27 March 1997 10 1 Maidstone United v.  Suriname; 15 October 2023
FW Joshua Isaac (2000-10-28) 28 October 2000 8 6 Paradise v.  Suriname; 15 October 2023
FW Regan Charles-Cook (1997-02-14) 14 February 1997 6 0 Eupen v.  Suriname; 15 October 2023

Records

As of 15 October 2023[3]
Players in bold still active with Grenada.

Most appearances

Rank Player Caps Goals Period
1 Cassim Langaigne 72 6 2004–2016
2 Ricky Charles 71 37 1995–2011
3 Anthony Modeste 67 13 1996–2011
4 Patrick Modeste 53 6 1996–2015
5 Jason Belfon 51 0 2013–present
6 Kithson Bain 49 17 2002–2015
Marc Marshall 49 0 2004–2015
8 Irvine Smith 40 0 2011–2021
9 Shanon Phillip 39 0 2008–2018
Kwazim Theodore 39 1 2017–present

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Period
1 Ricky Charles 37 71 0.52 1995–2011
2 Jamal Charles 17 36 0.47 2015–present
Kithson Bain 17 49 0.35 2002–2015
4 Denis Rennie 14 28 0.5 1999–2008
5 Anthony Modeste 13 67 0.19 1996–2011
6 Saydrel Lewis 8 36 0.22 2017–present
7 Keith Fletcher 7 6 1.17 1990–2000
Jake Rennie 7 32 0.22 2008–2017
9 Joshua Isaac 6 10 0.6 2021–present
Denron Frederick 6 19 0.32 2009–2018
Clive Murray 6 20 0.3 2011–2015
Patrick Modeste 6 53 0.11 1996–2015
Cassim Langaigne 6 72 0.08 2004–2016

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1978 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
1982 Did not qualify 200248
1986 Withdrew Withdrew
1990 and 1994 Did not enter Declined participation
1998 Did not qualify 420298
2002 201145
2006 4202107
2010 3111125
2014 6114714
2018 410337
2022 410325
2026 To be determined 201125
2030 To be determined
2034
Total-0/11------3184195364
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1963 to 1973Part of  United Kingdom
1977Did not enter
1981Did not qualify
1985Withdrew
1989Did not enter
1991
1993Did not qualify
1996
1998
2000
2002
2003
2005
2007
2009Group stage12th3003010
2011Group stage11th3003115
2013Did not qualify
2015
2017
2019
2021Group stage16th3003111
2023Did not qualify
TotalGroup stage3/279009236

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
League Finals
Season Division Group Pld W D L GF GA P/R Finals Result Pld W D L GF GA Squad
2019–20 B A 6 4 2 0 8 4 2021 Ineligible
2022–23 A D 4 0 1 3 4 17 2023 Did not qualify
2023–24 A B 4 0 1 3 2 13 2024
2024–25 B B To be determined 2025 Ineligible
Total 14 4 4 6 14 34 Total 0 Titles

CFU Caribbean Cup

CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
1978Did not enter Did not enter
1979Did not qualify 200213
1981Did not enter Did not enter
1983
1985Did not qualify 200218
1988Did not enter Did not enter
1989Runners-up2nd311143 4400131
1990Group Stage5th201105 312042
1991Did not enter Did not enter
1992Did not qualify 302112
1993 310267
1994 210144
1995 210124
1996 311134
1997Fourth place4th411268 211062
1998Did not qualify 3201174
1999Group stage6th3102310 211031
2001Did not qualify 310267
2005 5113810
2007 301213
2008Runners-up2nd5212811 5212109
2010Fourth place4th512234 320154
2012Did not qualify 311134
2014 302145
2017 4202119
Total Runners-up2nd2266102441 6022132510993

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  2. "Final Squad". Facebook. Grenada Football Association (GFA).
  3. Mamrud, Roberto. "Grenada - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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