Belize national football team
Nickname(s) | The Jaguars The Unbelizeables | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Football Federation of Belize | ||
Confederation | CONCACAF (North America) | ||
Sub-confederation | UNCAF (Central America) | ||
Head coach | David Pérez Asensio | ||
Captain | Ian Gaynair | ||
Most caps | Deon McCaulay (63) | ||
Top scorer | Deon McCaulay (28) | ||
Home stadium | FFB Field | ||
FIFA code | BLZ | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 179 3 (24 October 2024)[1] | ||
Highest | 114 (April–June 2016) | ||
Lowest | 201 (November 2007 – January 2008) | ||
First international | |||
British Honduras 1–0 Honduras (British Honduras; February 19, 1928) as Belize El Salvador 3–0 Belize (San Salvador, El Salvador; November 29, 1995) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Belize 7–1 Nicaragua (Belize City, Belize; April 17, 2002) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Costa Rica 7–0 Belize (San José, Costa Rica; March 17, 1999) Mexico 7–0 Belize (Monterrey, Mexico; June 21, 2008) | |||
Gold Cup | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2013) | ||
Best result | Group 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.[3] 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.[4]
Stadium
FFB Field 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.
Schedule and recent results
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
2022
29 January Friendly | Nicaragua | 4–0 | Belize | Managua, Nicaragua |
19:00 (UTC−6) | Report | Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol Referee: Ricardo Mendoza (Nicaragua) |
1 February Friendly | Nicaragua | 1–1 | Belize | Managua, Nicaragua |
19:00 (UTC−6) |
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Report |
|
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol Referee: Félix Mojica (Nicaragua) |
2 June Nations League | Belize | 0–2 | Dominican Republic | Belmopan, Belize |
16:00 (UTC−6) | Report | Stadium: FFB Stadium Referee: Oliver Vergara (Panama) |
5 June Nations League | Guatemala | 2–0 | Belize | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
13:00 (UTC−6) | Report | Stadium: Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores Referee: Diego Montaño (Mexico) |
9 June Nations League | Belize | 1–1 | French Guiana | Belmopan, Belize |
16:00 (UTC−6) | Avila 74' | Report | Sarrucco 89' | Stadium: FFB Stadium Referee: Daniel Quintero (Mexico) |
14 June Nations League | French Guiana | 1–0 | Belize | Cayenne, French Guiana |
16:00 (UTC−3) |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere (Canada) |
2023
27 March Nations League | Dominican Republic | v | Belize | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
Report | Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez |
Coaching staff
Name | Nat | Position |
---|---|---|
David Perez Asensio | Head coach | |
Philip Marin | Technical director | |
Jack Striders | Technical director | |
Carlos Slusher | Assistant Head coach | |
Peter Jones | Assistant Head coach | |
Kent Gabourel Sr. | Goalkeeping coach | |
Shaun Woodmac | Physical Trainer | |
Thomas Rivars | 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[update], the Belize national football team has had 11 managers.
Manager | Period in charge | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winston Michael | 1995–1996 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 |
Manuel Bilches | 1999–2000 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.0 |
Leroy Sherrier Lewis | 2001 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60.0 |
Eduardo Santana | 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Anthony Adderly | 2003–2006 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.0 |
Antonio Carlos Vieira | 2006–2007 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 |
Palmiro Salas | 2008 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50.0 |
Ian Mork | 2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 |
Renan Couoh | 2008–2009 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.0 |
José de la Paz Herrera | 2010–2012 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 28.6 |
Leroy Sherrier Lewis | 2012–2013 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20.0 |
Charlie Slusher | 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
Ian Mork | 2013–2014 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 |
Leroy Sherrier Lewis | 2014–2015 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 |
Jorge Nunez | 2015–2016 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.0 |
Richard Orlowski | 2016–2018 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.0 |
Palmiro Salas | 2018–2019 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 |
Vincenzo Alberto Annese | 2019–2020 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 |
Dale Pelayo Sr. | 2020–2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Players
Current squad
- The following players were called up for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League matches.[5]
- Match dates: 2, 5, 9 and 14 June 2022
- Opposition: Dominican Republic, Guatemala and French Guiana (twice)
- Caps and goals correct as of: 14 June 2022, after the match against French Guiana
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Charles Tillett | 29 July 2001 | 6 | 0 | Verdes | |
GK | Isaac Castillo | 25 January 2003 | 0 | 0 | Free agent | |
GK | Earl Dyck | 21 October 2003 | 0 | 0 | Free agent | |
DF | Donell Arzú | 27 September 1999 | 7 | 0 | Wagiya | |
DF | Aarón López | 11 August 1997 | 2 | 0 | Wagiya | |
DF | Eugene Martínez | 20 October 1997 | 4 | 0 | Free agent | |
DF | Deshawon Nembhard | 8 October 1994 | 7 | 1 | South Georgia Tormenta | |
DF | Evral Trapp | 22 January 1987 | 43 | 0 | Verdes | |
DF | José Urbina | 13 February 1995 | 2 | 0 | Altitude | |
DF | Horace Ávila | 18 September 1999 | 5 | 1 | Wagiya | |
MF | Norman Anderson | 25 January 1997 | 14 | 0 | Verdes | |
MF | Jesse August | 22 January 1994 | 7 | 1 | Verdes | |
MF | Krisean Lopez | 2 November 1998 | 20 | 3 | Verdes | |
MF | Nana Mensah | 19 January 1989 | 25 | 0 | Greek American AA | |
MF | Warren Moss | 13 October 1999 | 3 | 0 | Wagiya | |
MF | Darrel Myvett | 15 December 1993 | 10 | 0 | Verdes | |
MF | Jovaunn Ramos | 24 March 2002 | 4 | 0 | University of Northwestern Ohio | |
MF | Eldon Reneau | 22 May 2003 | 4 | 0 | Verdes | |
MF | Tony Rocha | 21 August 1993 | 4 | 0 | Orange County | |
MF | Luis Torres | 3 February 1993 | 8 | 0 | Belmopan Bandits | |
FW | Carlos Bernárdez | 28 December 1992 | 9 | 2 | Real España | |
FW | Angelo Cappello | 27 January 2002 | 5 | 0 | FC Halifax Town | |
FW | Deon McCaulay | 20 September 1987 | 63 | 28 | Georgia Revolution |
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 | Woodrow West | 19 September 1985 | 44 | 0 | Verdes | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
DF | Ian Gaynair | 26 February 1986 | 57 | 2 | Belmopan Bandits | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
DF | Collin Westby | 19 February 1995 | 6 | 0 | Altitude | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
DF | Alence Ayala | 24 April 1999 | 2 | 0 | Verdes | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
DF | Allan Barillas | 13 January 1999 | 1 | 0 | Altitude | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
MF | Denmark Casey Jr. | 14 January 1994 | 22 | 1 | Garden City | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
MF | Jordy Polanco | 8 June 1996 | 17 | 0 | Verdes | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
MF | Rene Leslie | 12 December 1999 | 0 | 0 | Altitude | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
FW | Michael Salazar | 15 November 1992 | 17 | 2 | LA Galaxy II | v. Nicaragua, 1 February 2022 |
INJ Withdrew due to injury |
Records
- As of 14 June 2022[6]
- Players in bold are still active with Belize.
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Competition records
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 | |
1930 | Part of United Kingdom | Part of United Kingdom | |||||||||||||
1934 | |||||||||||||||
1938 | |||||||||||||||
1950 | |||||||||||||||
1954 | |||||||||||||||
1958 | |||||||||||||||
1962 | |||||||||||||||
1966 | |||||||||||||||
1970 | |||||||||||||||
1974 | |||||||||||||||
1978 | |||||||||||||||
1982 | Did not enter | Declined participation | |||||||||||||
1986 | |||||||||||||||
1990 | |||||||||||||||
1994 | |||||||||||||||
1998 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||||||||
2002 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | |||||||||
2006 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | |||||||||
2010 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11 | |||||||||
2014 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 13 | |||||||||
2018 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||
2022 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
2026 | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
Total | 0/22 | 29 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 37 | 59 |
CONCACAF Championship & 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 | |
1963 | Part of United Kingdom | Part of United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||
1965 | ||||||||||||||||
1967 | ||||||||||||||||
1969 | ||||||||||||||||
1971 | ||||||||||||||||
1973 | ||||||||||||||||
1977 | ||||||||||||||||
1981 | ||||||||||||||||
1985 | Not a CONCACAF member | Not a CONCACAF member | ||||||||||||||
1989 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
1991 | ||||||||||||||||
1993 | ||||||||||||||||
1996 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |||||||||
1998 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
2000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||
2002 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||||||||||
2003 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
2005 | Did not qualify | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | |||||||||
2007 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | ||||||||||
2009 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | ||||||||||
2011 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||
2013 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | Squad | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
2015 | Did not qualify | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | |||||||||
2017 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 10 | ||||||||||
2019 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | ||||||||||
2021 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 12 | ||||||||||
Total | Group stage | 1/16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | — | 43 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 32 | 90 |
CONCACAF Nations League
CONCACAF Nations League record | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Division | Group | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | P/R | Rank |
2019−20 | B | A | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 24th | |
2022–23 | B | D | To be determined | |||||||
Total | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 24th |
Copa Centroamericana
Copa Centroamericana record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1991 | Did not enter | |||||||
1993 | ||||||||
1995 | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
1997 | Preliminary round | 7th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
1999 | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 |
2001 | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
2003 | Did not enter | |||||||
2005 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
2007 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
2009 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
2011 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
2013 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
2014 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
2017 | Group stage | 6th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
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.[7] 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[8]
Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record
Opponent | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bahamas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 |
Barbados | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
Canada | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 14 | −13 |
Cayman Islands | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Costa Rica | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 18 | −17 |
Cuba | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | −6 |
Dominican Republic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
El Salvador | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 29 | −23 |
French Guiana | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
Grenada | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
Guatemala | 11 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 19 | −10 |
Guyana | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 |
Haiti | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | –2 |
Honduras | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 24 | −20 |
Jamaica | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Mexico | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | −9 |
Montserrat | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 |
Nicaragua | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 21 | –2 |
Panama | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 | −7 |
Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
Turks and Caicos Islands | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
United States | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | −5 |
Total | 97 | 23 | 18 | 56 | 101 | 191 | −90 |
References
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Belize". Elo Ratings. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ Suspension of the Football Federation of Belize – FIFA
- ^ "Lasest CONCACAF Nations League call-ups". Football Federation of Belize - Facebook. May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ "Belize". National Football Teams.
- ^ "Belize - List of International Matches". Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Belize". Elo Ratings. Retrieved October 24, 2018.