Guyana set for CFU U-14 Girls’ Challenge Series in Trinidad and Tobago

Guyana’s young female footballers are poised to compete in the 2025 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-14 Girls’ Challenge Series, which will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from August 15-24.

According to CFU, the Guyanese squad will feature in Tier II of the competition.

The Challenge Series will see 23 Member Associations participate, split across two tiers. Tier I comprises eight teams divided into two groups of four:

• Group A: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Martinique
• Group B: Aruba, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago

Tier I group stage matches will be played in a round-robin format. Group winners and runners-up will progress to the semi-finals, culminating in the Tier I final on August 24. Playoff matches will determine the 5th to 8th place rankings.

Tier II, where Guyana will compete, features 15 teams across three groups of five:

• Group A: St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Bonaire, US Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia
• Group B: Grenada, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, French Guiana, Suriname
• Group C: Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, Guyana

Teams in Tier II will also play a round-robin format.

The three group winners will advance to the semi-finals, joined by the second-placed team with the highest points total across all Tier II groups.

The top-ranked group winner will face the best second-placed team, while the second—and third-best group winners will play in the other semi-final.

Tier II action will commence on August 15, with Tier I kicking off a day later on August 16.

Further details regarding the official match schedule are expected to be released soon.

The CFU U-14 Challenge Series, established in 2018, is a cornerstone of the CFU’s developmental strategy.

It aims to provide young male and female players (in alternating years) with their first taste of international competition, aligning with both the CFU’s and FIFA’s commitment to grassroots football development in the region.

Beyond player development, the series also serves as a crucial training ground for aspiring match officials through the CFU’s Next Generation Referee Course, offering essential technical and practical experience for those looking to advance to the FIFA International Refereeing Lists.

Additionally, the event provides valuable training for match and venue coordinators.