Belize
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Jaguars
The Unbelizeables
AssociationFootball Federation of Belize (FFB)
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationUNCAF (Central America)
Head coachDavid Pérez Asensio
CaptainEvral Trapp
Most capsDeon McCaulay (63)
Top scorerDeon McCaulay (28)
Home stadiumFFB Stadium
FIFA codeBLZ
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 182 Steady (21 December 2023)[1]
Highest114 (April–June 2016)
Lowest201 (November 2007 – January 2008)
First international
 British Honduras 1–0 Honduras 
(British Honduras; 19 February 1928)
as Belize
 El Salvador 3–0 Belize 
(San Salvador, El Salvador; 29 November 1995)
Biggest win
 Belize 7–1 Nicaragua 
(Belize City, Belize; 17 April 2002)
Biggest defeat
 Costa Rica 7–0 Belize 
(San José, Costa Rica; 17 March 1999)
 Mexico 7–0 Belize 
(Monterrey, Mexico; 21 June 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 Stadium 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.

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

24 March 2022–23 Nations League Belize  1–2  Guatemala Belmopan, Belize
20:00 (UTC−6)
  • Polanco 45+1'
Report Stadium: FFB Stadium
Referee: Selvin Brown (Honduras)
27 March 2022–23 Nations League Dominican Republic  2–0  Belize San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
18:00 (UTC−4)
Report Stadium: Estadio Panamericano
Referee: Yadel Martínez (Cuba)
8 September 2023–24 Nations League Belize  1–2  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Fort-de-France, Martinique
16:00 UTC−4
  • Mensah 18'
Report
Stadium: Stade Pierre-Aliker
Referee: Oliver Vergara (Panama)
13 October 2023–24 Nations League Belize  0–1  Bermuda Belmopan, Belize
20:00 UTC−6 Report Stadium: FFB Stadium
Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica)
17 October 2023–24 Nations League Bermuda  1–1  Belize Devonshire Parish, Bermuda
19:30 UTC−3 Report
Stadium: Dame Flora Duffy National Sports Centre
Referee: David Gómez (Costa Rica)
17 November 2023–24 Nations League Belize  1–0  French Guiana Belmopan, Belize
20:00 UTC−6
Report Stadium: FFB Stadium
Referee: Jefferson Escobar (Honduras)

Coaching staff

Name Nat Position
David Perez Asensio Spain Head coach
Philip Marin Honduras Technical director
Jack Striders Belize Technical director
Carlos Slusher Belize Assistant Head coach
Peter Jones Belize Assistant Head coach
Kent Gabourel Sr. Belize Goalkeeping coach
Shaun Woodmac Belize Physical Trainer
Thomas Rivars Belize 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 the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations matches against French Guiana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 16 and 20 November 2023.[4]

Caps and goals correct as of 17 October 2023, after the match against  Bermuda.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Charles Tillett (2001-07-29) 29 July 2001 12 0 Belize Progresso
1GK Luisito Cunil (1989-11-01) 1 November 1989 0 0 Belize Progresso
1GK Mateo Can 0 0 Belize Benque D.C. United

2DF Evral Trapp (1987-01-22) 22 January 1987 49 0 Belize Verdes
2DF Eugene Martínez (1997-10-20) 20 October 1997 9 1 Canada Vancouver FC
2DF Deshawon Nembhard (1994-10-08) 8 October 1994 9 1 United States Tormenta
2DF Collin Westby (1995-02-19) 19 February 1995 8 0 Belize Altitude
2DF Jahron Myvette (1995-05-09) 9 May 1995 4 0 Belize Verdes
2DF Allan Barillas (1999-01-13) 13 January 1999 4 0 Belize Altitude
2DF Makonnan Clare (1994-08-29) 29 August 1994 3 0 United States Dalton United
2DF Jaylen Lennan 0 0 Belize Benque D.C. United
2DF Dedron Baptist 0 0 Belize Progresso

3MF Nana-Yaw Amankwah-Mensah (1989-01-19) 19 January 1989 28 1 United States South Carolina United Heat
3MF Jordy Polanco (1996-06-08) 8 June 1996 23 2 Belize Verdes
3MF Nahjib Guerra (1994-08-18) 18 August 1994 11 0 Belize Benque Viejo United
3MF Eldon Reneau (2003-05-22) 22 May 2003 10 1 Belize Verdes
3MF Warren Moss (1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 7 0 United States Indiana Tech Warriors
3MF Andir Chi (2000-11-17) 17 November 2000 5 0 Belize Progresso
3MF Jovaunn Ramos (2002-03-24) 24 March 2002 5 0 United States University of Northwestern Ohio
3MF Alwin Zelaya (2001-08-29) 29 August 2001 1 0 Belize Progresso
3MF Latrell Middleton (1999-11-03) 3 November 1999 0 0 Belize Port Layola

4FW Michael Salazar (1992-11-15) 15 November 1992 21 2 United States Miami
4FW Carlos Bernárdez (1992-12-28) 28 December 1992 13 2 Honduras Victoria
4FW Horace Ávila (1999-09-18) 18 September 1999 8 1 Belize San Pedro Pirates
4FW Gilroy Thurton (1993-09-07) 7 September 1993 5 0 Belize Port Layola
4FW Jonard Castillo (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 0 0 Belize Belmopan Bandits

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
GK Kenroy Tillett (2001-09-20) 20 September 2001 0 0 Belize Port Layola v.  Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
GK Earl Dyck (2003-10-21) 21 October 2003 0 0 United States South Carolina United Heat v.  Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023

DF Kyle Flowers (1993-03-24) 24 March 1993 3 0 Belize Altitude v.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023
DF Alence Ayala (1999-04-24) 24 April 1999 1 0 Belize Verdes v.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023
DF Donell Arzú (1999-09-27) 27 September 1999 8 0 Belize Progresso v.  Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
DF Asrel Sutherland (1993-03-08) 8 March 1993 6 0 Belize San Pedro Pirates v.  Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
DF Jordan Casanova (2004-04-30) 30 April 2004 1 0 United States Angelina College v.  Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023

MF Darrel Myvett (1993-12-15) 15 December 1993 12 0 Belize Verdes v.  Bermuda; 17 October, 2023
MF Izon Gill (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 1 0 Belize Verdes v.  Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
MF Trimayne Harris (1997-12-20) 20 December 1997 6 0 Belize Verdes v.  Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023
MF Denmark Casey (1994-01-14) 14 January 1994 25 1 Belize Belmopan Bandits v.  Dominican Republic; 27 March, 2023

FW Michael Palacio (2002-02-15) 15 February 2002 5 0 Belize Port Layola v.  Bermuda; 17 October, 2023
FW Krisean López (1998-11-02) 2 November 1998 24 3 El Salvador Platense v.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023
FW Angelo Cappello (2002-01-27) 27 January 2002 7 1 England Halifax Town v.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023
FW Moisés Hernández (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 0 0 Belize San Pedro Pirates v.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 12 September, 2023

Records

As of 21 November 2023[5]
Players in bold are still active with Belize.

Most appearances

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1Deon McCaulay63282007–present
2Elroy Smith6162004–2019
3Ian Gaynair5722007–2022
4Evral Trapp5102010– present
5Woodrow West4402008–2022
6Dalton Eiley4102005–2019
Daniel Jiménez4122008–2019
8Harrison Róchez4052004–2019
9Trevor Lennen3712005–2019
10Elroy Kuylen3362009–2019

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1Deon McCaulay28630.442007–present
2Elroy Kuylen6330.182009–2019
Elroy Smith6610.12004–2019
4Dion Frazer580.632000–2008
Harrison Róchez5400.132004–2019
6Norman Nuñez3110.271995–2005
Vallan Symms3200.152000–2011
Krisean López3240.132018–present
9Bent Burgess2212000–2002
Wilmer García260.331999–2001
David McCauley260.331995–1997
Carlos Bernárdez2130.152019–present
Michael Salazar2210.12013–present
Jordy Polanco2240.082015–present
Daniel Jiménez2410.052008–2019
Ian Gaynair2570.042007–2022

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Spain 1982 Did not enter Declined participation
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
United States 1994
France 1998 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 6
South Korea Japan 2002 4 0 1 3 2 10
Germany 2006 2 0 0 2 0 8
South Africa 2010 4 1 1 2 4 11
Brazil 2014 8 4 1 3 17 13
Russia 2018 6 2 3 1 7 6
Qatar 2022 3 1 0 2 5 5
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/11 29 8 6 15 37 59

CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship & CONCACAF Gold Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
El Salvador 1963 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
Guatemala 1965
Honduras 1967
Costa Rica 1969
Trinidad and Tobago 1971
Haiti 1973
Mexico 1977
Honduras 1981
1985 Not a CONCACAF member Not a CONCACAF member
1989 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 1991
Mexico United States 1993
United States 1996 Did not qualify 200215
United States 1998 201112
United States 2000 2002112
United States 2002 201137
Mexico United States 2003 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 2005 Did not qualify 300307
United States 2007 300337
United States 2009 301237
United States 2011 301238
United States 2013 Group stage 12th 3 0 0 3 1 11 Squad 511324
Canada United States 2015 Did not qualify 300316
United States 2017 5014210
Costa Rica Jamaica United States 2019 4 2 0 2 6 3
United States 2021 6 2 0 4 6 12
Canada United States 2023 6 0 1 5 2 10
Total Group stage 1/18 3 0 0 3 1 11 49 5 5 39 34 100

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
Season Division Group Pld W D* L GF GA P/R Rank
United States 2019−20 B A 6 2 0 4 6 12 Same position 24th
United States 2022–23 B D 6 0 1 5 2 10 Same position 28th
Total 12 2 1 9 8 22 24th

Copa Centroamericana

Copa Centroamericana record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Costa Rica 1991Did not enter
Honduras 1993
El Salvador 1995Group stage6th200215
Guatemala 1997Preliminary round7th201112
Costa Rica 1999Group stage6th2002112
Honduras 20016th201137
Panama 2003Did not enter
Guatemala 2005Group stage7th300307
El Salvador 20077th300337
Honduras 20097th301237
Panama 20117th301238
Costa Rica 2013Fourth place4th511324
United States 2014Group stage7th300316
Panama 20176th5014210
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.[6] 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 27 March 2022 after match against  Cuba[7]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

OpponentPWDLGFGAGF
 Bahamas 110040+4
 Barbados 211010+1
 Canada 5014114−13
 Cayman Islands 2020110
 Costa Rica 6006118−17
 Cuba 310239−6
 Dominican Republic 220051+4
 El Salvador 100010629−23
 French Guiana 220030+3
 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
Total98241856102191−89

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. "World Football Elo Ratings: Belize". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  3. Suspension of the Football Federation of Belize – FIFA
  4. "Squad List". Facebook. Football Federation of Belize - FFB.
  5. "Belize". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  6. "Belize - List of International Matches". Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  7. "World Football Elo Ratings: Belize". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
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