The [British] Virgin Islands posed for a group photo this morning, March 22, 2024, ahead of their game against neighbouring US Virgin Islands from 5:00 PM at the Bethlehem Sports Complex in St Croix. Photo: BVIFA/Facebook

Skipper of the [British] Virgin Islands team Kavon Troy Caesar said the team has a 'winning mentality' going into today's game against the US Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook

The CONCACAF Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup start this Friday, March 22, 2024, with the first leg matches of the First Round. Photo: CONCACAF

Among those in action will be the [British] Virgin Islands who play neighbouring US Virgin Islands from 5:00 PM at the Bethlehem Sports Complex in St Croix.

There is plenty of history between these two teams, with seven previous match-ups. The VI narrowly lead the series 3W-2D-2L.

However, in their lone World Cup Qualifying series, USVI emerged victorious 4-1 on aggregate with a 2-0 home win and a 2-1 away victory in Concacaf Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2014.

The VI will be feeling very confident heading into this match-up with a dynamic trio in the form of Tyler Forbes, Luka E. Chalwell and skipper Kavon Troy Caesar. Those three have combined for nine career Concacaf Nations League goals, including three for Chalwell in the 2023-24 CNL.

The VI finished 1W-2D-1L in their CNL group and are poised to take a step forward in qualifying.

We have a ‘mentality to win’- Kavon Troy Caesar

“The team is going into the game with the mentality to win. This is a very big game for us to make the country proud and we are going to fight for 90 minutes plus,” Captain Caesar told our News Centre in an exclusive interview this morning.

Mr Caesar said the boys just have to follow what the coaching staff set out for them to be a competitive team.

“Coming out the last window where we played Dominica and Turks with that positive energy, we just going to bring it into today’s match and on the match on Tuesday," Mr Caesar said.

The VI play the USVI in the second leg at A.O. Shirley Ground on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Meanwhile, the USVI are looking to snap a five-match losing streak in qualifying and will be leaning on players like Naqwan Henry, Rakeem Joseph and Quinn Farrell for goal-scoring inspiration.