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Antigua and Barbuda national football team

Men's association football team

Antigua and Barbuda national football team

Summary

Men's association football team

FieldValue
NameAntigua and Barbuda
BadgeAntigua and Barbuda Football.png
Badge_size180px
NicknameThe Benna Boys
AssociationAntigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA)
Sub-confederationCFU (Caribbean)
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
CoachJacques Passy
CaptainQuinton Griffith
Most capsPeter Byers (91)
Top scorerPeter Byers (44)
Home StadiumAntigua Recreation Ground
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
FIFA TrigrammeATG
FIFA Rank
FIFA max70
FIFA max dateOctober 2014
FIFA min170
FIFA min dateDecember 2003 – January 2004
Elo Rank
Elo max131
Elo max dateNovember 2010
Elo min179
Elo min dateNovember 2007
pattern_la1_jomasupernova19by
pattern_b1_a&b_bennaboys2021h
pattern_ra1_home_jomasupernova19by
pattern_sh1_a&b_bennaboys2021
leftarm1000000
body1000000
rightarm1000000
shorts1FFFF00
socks1FFFF00
pattern_la2_jomasupernova19antigua
pattern_b2_a&b bennaboys2021away
pattern_ra2_away_jomasupernova19by
pattern_sh2_antigua&barbuda2021away
leftarm2DF0101
body2DF0101
rightarm2DF0101
shorts2000000
socks2000000
First gameBritish Leeward Islands Antigua and Barbuda 2–0
(Basseterre, Saint Christopher and Nevis; 1 February 1950)
Largest win10–0
(North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda; 11 October 2011)
Largest loss11–1
(Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; 10 November 1972)
2ndRegional nameCFU Championship / Caribbean Cup
2ndRegional cup apps11
2ndRegional cup first1978
2ndRegional cup bestRunners-up (1988)

the men's team

| Sub-confederation = CFU (Caribbean) Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (Basseterre, Saint Christopher and Nevis; 1 February 1950) (North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda; 11 October 2011) (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; 10 November 1972)

The Antigua and Barbuda national football team represents Antigua and Barbuda in men's international football, which is governed by the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association founded in 1928. It has been a member of FIFA and CONCACAF since 1972. Regionally, it is a member of CFU in the Caribbean Zone.

Antigua and Barbuda has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but has participated four times in the League B of the CONCACAF Nations League. Regionally, the team finished as runners-up in the CFU Championship in 1988.

Antigua and Barbuda's debut in international competitions was in the 1973 CONCACAF Championship qualification, which also served as the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. The team achieved its first victory in 1950, defeating Montserrat 2–0 in the Leeward Islands Tournament, which was also the first match in the team's history.

History

First official international match

On November 10, 1972, Antigua and Barbuda's first official match was in the 1973 CONCACAF Championship qualification, losing to Trinidad and Tobago 11–1 in Port of Spain, which is the worst defeat in the team's history.

Friendlies against European teams

On 17 December 2005, the Antigua and Barbuda national team played their first match against a European opponent after the Hungarian Football Federation invited "the Benna Boys" to play Hungary in an international friendly at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was the first match coached by former national striker Derrick Edwards. Hungary defeated Antigua and Barbuda 3–0.

On 2 May 2016, the Estonian Football Association announced that their national team would play Antigua and Barbuda in an international friendly on 22 November. It was the team's second match against a European opponent. Estonia won the game 1–0.

2018 drug bust in Jamaica

During the March 2018 FIFA Calendar Antigua and Barbuda played Jamaica, drawing 1–1 away at Sabina Park, levelling in the last seconds of match from a header from Peter Byers. Upon the team's preparation for their departure back to Antigua, assistant coach Derrick Edwards and equipment manager Danny Benjamin were arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export marijuana, and conspiracy at the Norman Manley International Airport. Initially, Edwards was awarded bail and Benjamin was held without bail; after a month, both Edwards and Benjamin were placed under house arrest and curfew and gave up their travel documents. Both men were acquitted of the crime on 14 June, citing there was not enough evidence to prove their involvement in the carrying the drugs with the intention of smuggling them out of Jamaica.

Team image

Nicknames

The official nickname of the Antigua and Barbuda national football team is "the Benna Boys", referring to a genre of Antiguan and Barbudan music similar to calypso. The name was selected in a contest with the fanbase in 2012 after the team advanced to the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. "The Benna Boys" beat out other entries in the contest such as "Beach Boys", "Iron Bandits", "Rhythm Warriors" and "Party Crashers". In the past, the national team was unofficially known as "the Wadadli Boys", another name that was in the contest but did not win.

Kit suppliers

The kit of the national team has been manufactured by Spanish-based Joma since March 2021, ahead of the first round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Kit manufacturerTime period
Admiral1995–1999
2000–2003
Adidas2006–2011
Peak2012–2016
Admiral2016–2020
Joma2021–present

Results and fixtures

Main article: Antigua and Barbuda national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2025

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

NamePosition
MEX Jacques PassyHead coach
ATG Janiel SimonManager
ATG Lenny HewlettAssistant coach
ATG Schyan JeffersAssistant coach
ESP Eduardo SuarezAssistant coach
ESP Juan Lecona NavaGoalkeeper coach
ATG McClean LawrencePhysiotherapist
ATG Danny BenjaminEquipment manager

Manager history

Polish manager [[Piotr Nowak]] was at the helm of Antigua and Barbuda when they achieved their highest FIFA ranking (70) in October 2014.

The following is a list of head coaches of the Antigua and Barbuda national team throughout the years.

NamePeriodMatchesWinsDrawsLossesNotes
FRG Rudi Gutendorf1976
SCG Zoran Vraneš1998–2000Fourth place at the 1998 Caribbean Cup
BRA Walter Gama2001–2002
ATG Rolston Williams2004
ATG Derrick Edwards2005–2008
SCO Willie Donachie200816835
ATG Rowan Benjamin2008–201111434
ENG Tom Curtis2011–2012218310Semifinal round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers
ATG Rolston Williams2012–20146402
POL Piotr Nowak2014–201512525Highest FIFA Ranking (70) under his tenure
ATG Rolston Williams2015–20188305
ATG Derrick Edwards2018–20196213
DRC Michél Dinzey2019–202010406
ATG Mikele Leigertwood2021–2025256415
MEX Jacques Passy2025-4013

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025–26 CONCACAF Series matches against Aruba and Guyana on 12 and 18 November 2025.

Caps and goals are correct as of 12 November 2025, after the match against Aruba.

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Antigua and Barbuda squad within the last twelve months.

Player records

|- | 3 ||align=left| Randolph Burton || 15 || 52 || || 2008–2016 |- | 4 ||align=left| Tamorley Thomas || 12 || 64 || || 2002–2021 |- | 5 ||align=left| Quinton Griffith || 11 || 89 || || 2009–present |- | 6 ||align=left| Jamie Thomas || 10 || 31 || || 2006–2011 |- | 7 ||align=left| Myles Weston || 9 || 16 || || 2014–2023

-
-
}

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPos.PldWDLGFGASquadPldWDLGFGATotal0/12501572873103
1930 to 1970Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
West Germany 1974Did not qualify4004322
1978 and 1982Did not participateDid not participate
Mexico 1986Did not qualify210125
Italy 1990200214
United States 1994411256
France 1998201146
South Korea Japan 20026123415
Germany 2006210123
South Africa 2010420278
Brazil 2014125163218
Russia 2018420266
Qatar 2022421165
Canada Mexico United States 2026401315
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030To be determinedTo be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034

CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship / Gold Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPos.PldWDLGFGASquadPldWDLGFGATotal0/2099331551132198
1963 to 1971Part of United KingdomPart of United Kingdom
Haiti 1973Did not qualify4004322
1977 and 1981Did not participateDid not participate
[[File:Location North America.svg20px]] 1985Did not qualify210125
[[File:Location North America.svg20px]] 1989211014
United States 1991Did not participateDid not participate
Mexico United States 1993Did not qualify210111
United States 19963122611
United States 1998200215
United States 2000114252417
United States 2002301245
Mexico United States 2003501418
United States 2005310268
United States 20076204817
United States 200994321916
United States 2011622245
United States 2013310233
Canada United States 201594231411
United States 20176303108
Costa Rica Jamaica United States 20194202108
United States 20216303817
Canada United States 20237304512
Canada United States 20256015215

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League recordLeague phaseFinal phaseSeasonDiv.GroupPos.PldWDLGFGAP/RFinalsRoundPos.PldWDLGFGASquadTotal2472152461Total
2019−20BC7th6303817USA 2021Ineligible
2022–23BA8th630357USA 2023
2023–24BD13th6114922USA 2024
2024–25BD15th6015215USA 2025
2026–27CTo be determined2027
CONCACAF Nations League historyFirst matchBiggest winBiggest defeatBest resultWorst result
6–0
(6 September 2019; Montego Bay, Jamaica)
4–1
(14 October 2023; Nassau, Bahamas)
6–0
(6 September 2019; Montego Bay, Jamaica)
6–0
(21 November 2023; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
7th – League B (2019–20)
Relegation League C (2024–25)

Caribbean Cup

CFU Championship / Caribbean Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPos.PldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGATotalRunners-up11/22429112247766730142311685
TRI 1978Fourth place4th511348211030
SUR 1979Did not qualify200202
PUR 1981Did not participateDid not participate
GYF 1983Fourth place4th722311104220105
BAR 1985Did not qualify210122
MTQ 1988Runners-up2nd514054211021
BRB 1989Did not qualify430142
TRI 1990301225
JAM 1991Did not participateDid not participate
TRI 1992Group stage7th3012212330080
JAM 1993Did not qualify210111
TRI 19942101103
CAY JAM 1995Group stage7th310238202033
TRI 1996WithdrewWithdrew
ATG SKN 1997Group stage6th200215Qualified as hosts
JAM TRI 1998Fourth place4th52031193210113
TRI 1999Did not qualify301225
TRI 2001301245
BRB 2005310268
TRI 20076204817
JAM 2008Group stage7th30213664111610
MTQ 2010Group stage5th310224312021
ATG 2012Group stage8th310233Qualified as hosts
JAM 2014Group stage7th3012276411124
MTQ 2017Did not qualify6303108

Central American and Caribbean Games

Central American and Caribbean Games recordYearRoundPos.PldWDLGFGATotalQuarter-finals1/1201112
1930 to 1982Did not participate
DOM 1986Quarter-finals5th201112

Head-to-head record

The following table shows Antigua and Barbuda's all-time official international record per opponent:

Updated to 18 November 2025 after the match against Guyana ;Key

OpponentPldWDLGFGATotal2408343114342428
5500283
6510114
3210123
8116916
143561418
84221410
301214
8017419
4301106
178542820
8125821
100103
100101
110021
6330137
7214412
8107331
155371737
122371119
200203
100103
12129529
4103612
100108
4310206
4103510
239593031
145362318
137241720
320172
6123415
1320111241
5500261
200225

Honours

Subregional

  • CFU Championship
    • Runners-up (1): 1988

Friendly

  • Leeward Islands Tournament (2): 1949, 1994

References

References

  1. https://inside.fifa.com/associations/ATG
  2. (2021-03-07). "ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA".
  3. "Caribbean Net News: Hungary beat Antigua-Barbuda in exhibition match". caribbeannewsnow.com.
  4. "Eesti Jalgpalli Liit". jalgpall.ee.
  5. Helps, HG. (1 April 2018). "A coach's ganja plan".
  6. "Text to 774 – 3307 your choice for the name the team contest".
  7. "Football (Soccer) Team Nicknames".
  8. (11 November 2025). "Here’s the final Senior Men’s National Team set to represent Antigua and Barbuda in the Concacaf Series". ABFA - Antigua And Barbuda Football Association.
  9. "Antigua and Barbuda".
  10. "Antigua And Barbuda national football team statistics and records: All-time record". 11v11.com.
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