Antigua and Barbuda national football team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | The Benna Boys | |||||||
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Association | Antigua and Barbuda Football Association | |||||||
Confederation | CONCACAF (North America) | |||||||
Sub-confederation | Caribbean Football Union (Caribbean) | |||||||
Head coach | Mikele Leigertwood | |||||||
Captain | Quinton Griffith | |||||||
Most caps | Peter Byers (91) | |||||||
Top scorer | Peter Byers (44) | |||||||
Home stadium | Antigua Recreation Ground Sir Vivian Richards Stadium |
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FIFA code | ATG | |||||||
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FIFA ranking | ||||||||
Current | 126 ![]() |
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Highest | 70 (October 2014) | |||||||
Lowest | 170 (December 2003 – January 2004) | |||||||
Elo ranking | ||||||||
Current | 167 ![]() |
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Highest | 131 (November 2010) | |||||||
Lowest | 179 (November 2007) | |||||||
First international | ||||||||
![]() ![]() (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; 10 November 1972) |
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Biggest win | ||||||||
![]() ![]() (North Sound, Antigua & Barbuda; 11 October 2011) |
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Biggest defeat | ||||||||
![]() ![]() (Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; 10 November 1972) |
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Medal record
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The Antigua and Barbuda national football team is the national team of Antigua and Barbuda and is controlled by the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association, a member of the CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup or the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Contents
History
On November 10, 1972, Antigua and Barbuda's first match was a 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifying match versus Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain. The match was a 11-1 thrashing which to this day is this national team's worst defeat.
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.
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.
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 manufacturer | Time period |
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Admiral | 1995–1999 |
Virma | 2000–2003 |
Adidas | 2006–2011 |
Peak | 2012–2016 |
Admiral | 2016–2020 |
Joma | 2021–present |
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
2022–23 Nations League 23 March | Guadeloupe ![]() |
0–1 | ![]() |
Les Abymes, Guadeloupe | ||
19:00 UTC−4 | Stadium: Stade René Serge Nabajoth Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière (Canada) |
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2022–23 Nations League 26 March | Antigua and Barbuda ![]() |
1–2 | ![]() |
North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda | ||
16:00 UTC−4 | Stadium: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Referee: Ismael Cornejo (El Salvador) |
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2023 Gold Cup qualification 16 June | Antigua and Barbuda ![]() |
0–5 | ![]() |
Fort Lauderdale, United States | ||
16:30 UTC−4 | Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium Referee: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico) |
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2023–24 Nations League 9 September | Antigua and Barbuda ![]() |
1–5 | ![]() |
Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda | ||
15:30 UTC−4 |
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Stadium: ABFA Technical Center Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala) |
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2023–24 Nations League 12 September | Puerto Rico ![]() |
5–0 | ![]() |
Nassau, Bahamas | ||
19:00 UTC−4 |
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Stadium: Thomas Robinson Stadium Referee: Melvin Matamoros (Honduras) |
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2023–24 Nations League 14 October | Bahamas ![]() |
1–4 | ![]() |
Nassau, Bahamas | ||
18:00 UTC−4 |
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Stadium: Thomas Robinson Stadium Referee: Sergio Reyna (Guatemala) |
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2023–24 Nations League 17 October | Antigua and Barbuda ![]() |
2–2 | ![]() |
Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda | ||
15:30 UTC−4 |
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Stadium: ABFA Technical Center Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada) |
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2023–24 Nations League 18 November | Antigua and Barbuda ![]() |
2–3 | ![]() |
Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda | ||
15:00 UTC−4 | Stadium: ABFA Technical Center Referee: Benjamin Whitty (Cayman Islands) |
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2023–24 Nations League 21 November | Guyana ![]() |
6–0 | ![]() |
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | ||
20:00 UTC−4 | Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez Referee: Sergio Rozenhout (Suriname) |
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2024
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 5 June | Antigua and Barbuda ![]() |
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--:-- UTC−4 | ||||||
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 8 June | Cayman Islands ![]() |
v | ![]() |
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--:-- UTC−5 | ||||||
2025
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 6 June | Antigua and Barbuda ![]() |
v | ![]() |
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--:-- UTC−4 | ||||||
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 10 June | Honduras ![]() |
v | ![]() |
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--:-- UTC−6 | ||||||
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
Manager history
The following is a list of head coaches of the Antigua and Barbuda national team throughout the years.
Name | Period | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Notes |
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1976 | |||||
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1998–2000 | Fourth place at the 1998 Caribbean Cup | ||||
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2001–2002 | |||||
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2004 | |||||
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2005–2008 | |||||
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2008 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |
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2008–2011 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | |
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2011–2012 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | Semifinal round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers |
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2012–2014 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
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2014–2015 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | Highest FIFA Ranking (70) under his tenure |
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2015–2018 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
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2018–2019 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
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2019–2020 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | |
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2021– | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification match against Guadeloupe on 16 June 2023.
Caps and goals are correct as of 16 June 2023, after the match against Guadeloupe.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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GK | Nick Townsend | 1 November 1994 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
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GK | Taj Moore | 16 June 2005 | 0 | 0 | ||
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DF | Karanja Mack | 24 August 1987 | 58 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Daniel Bowry | 29 April 1998 | 17 | 1 | ![]() |
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DF | Aaron Taylor-Sinclair | 8 April 1991 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Jahzime Barthley | 13 April 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Quinton Griffith (Captain) | 27 February 1992 | 73 | 9 | ![]() |
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MF | Shevorn Phillip | 9 September 1996 | 16 | 1 | ![]() |
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MF | TJ Bramble | 9 May 2001 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Ashley Nathaniel-George | 14 June 1995 | 7 | 1 | ![]() |
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MF | Henry Antyon | 23 April 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Karique Knight | 3 April 2005 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Jahzinho O'Garro | 12 December 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Kemio Williams | 26 October 1998 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Shakore Simon | 10 February 2000 | 0 | 0 | ||
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FW | Josh Parker | 1 December 1990 | 37 | 5 | ![]() |
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FW | Shalon Knight | 4 March 2000 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Whitney Gonsalves | 7 January 1999 | 1 | 0 | ||
FW | Zayn Hakeem | 15 February 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Eroy Gonsalves | 18 September 2006 | 0 | 0 |
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the Antigua and Barbuda squad within the last twelve months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
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GK | Shahoi Dorsett | 23 June 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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GK | Zaieem Scott | 9 July 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Zaine Francis-Angol | 30 June 1993 | 26 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Mahlon Romeo | 18 September 1995 | 14 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Leroy Graham | 7 December 1999 | 13 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Kendukar Challenger | 24 January 1997 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Vashami Allen | 9 April 1997 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Myles Weston | 12 March 1988 | 14 | 9 | ![]() |
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MF | Kwame Kirby | 28 November 2001 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Zafique Drew | 30 August 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Javorn Stevens | 9 May 1998 | 23 | 1 | ![]() |
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FW | D'Andre Bishop | 2 October 2002 | 17 | 3 | ![]() |
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FW | Raheem Deterville | 1 December 1999 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | D'Jarie Sheppard | 28 June 2003 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
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Player records
- Players in bold are still active with Antigua and Barbuda.
Most appearances
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
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1 | Peter Byers | 91 | 44 | 2004–2021 |
2 | Quinton Griffith | 79 | 10 | 2009–present |
3 | George Dublin | 67 | 4 | 2000–2012 |
4 | Tamorley Thomas | 64 | 12 | 2002–2021 |
5 | Karanja Mack | 58 | 0 | 2006–present |
6 | Ranjae Christian | 54 | 5 | 1998–2012 |
7 | Randolph Burton | 52 | 15 | 2008–2016 |
Akeem Thomas | 52 | 2 | 2008–2018 | |
9 | Gayson Gregory | 49 | 8 | 2000–2014 |
Molvin James | 49 | 0 | 2007–2021 |
Top goalscorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
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1 | Peter Byers | 44 | 91 | 0.48 | 2004–2021 |
2 | Derrick Edwards | 18 | 20 | 0.9 | 1988–2000 |
3 | Randolph Burton | 15 | 52 | 0.29 | 2008–2016 |
4 | Tamorley Thomas | 12 | 64 | 0.19 | 2002–2021 |
5 | Jamie Thomas | 10 | 31 | 0.32 | 2006–2011 |
6 | Quinton Griffith | 10 | 79 | 0.13 | 2009–present |
7 | Myles Weston | 9 | 16 | 0.56 | 2014–present |
8 | Garfield Gonsalves | 8 | 29 | 0.28 | 1992–2008 |
Kerry Skepple | 8 | 34 | 0.24 | 2002–2012 | |
Gayson Gregory | 8 | 49 | 0.16 | 2000–2014 |
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup | Qualification | ||||||||||||||||
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Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | F | A | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | ||
1930 to 1970 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 22 | ||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||
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6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 15 | |||||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||
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4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | |||||||||||
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12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 32 | 18 | |||||||||||
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4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | |||||||||||
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To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
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Total | 0/13 | 46 | 15 | 6 | 25 | 72 | 98 |
CONCACAF Gold Cup
CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
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Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
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Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 22 | |||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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1985 | Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |||||||||
1989 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
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3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | ||||||||||
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||
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11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 17 | ||||||||||
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3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||
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5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||
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3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | ||||||||||
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6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 17 | ||||||||||
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9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 16 | ||||||||||
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6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||
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3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
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9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 11 | ||||||||||
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6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||
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4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||
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6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 17 | ||||||||||
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7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 12 | ||||||||||
Total | 0/22 | 93 | 33 | 14 | 46 | 130 | 183 |
CONCACAF Nations League
CONCACAF Nations League record | ||||||||||
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Season | Division | Group | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | P/R | Rank |
2019−20 | B | C | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 17 | ![]() |
21st |
2022–23 | B | A | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | ![]() |
21st |
2023–24 | B | D | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 22 | ![]() |
20th |
Total | 18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 22 | 46 | 20th |
CONCACAF Nations League history | |
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First match | ![]() ![]() (6 September 2019; Montego Bay, Jamaica) |
Biggest win | ![]() ![]() (14 October 2023; Nassau, Bahamas) |
Biggest defeat | ![]() ![]() (6 September 2019; Montego Bay, Jamaica) ![]() ![]() (21 November 2023; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) |
Best result | — |
Worst result | — |
CFU Caribbean Cup
- ***Red border color indicates that Antigua and Barbuda was the host nation.
Head-to-head record
The following table shows Antigua and Barbuda's all-time official international record per opponent:
- Key
Winning record Equal record Losing record
Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
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5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
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5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
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7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 |
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11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 14 |
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8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 10 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 18 |
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4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 6 |
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15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 18 |
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6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
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6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 7 |
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
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8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
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12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 22 |
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12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 19 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
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12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 29 |
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4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
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4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
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23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 31 |
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14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 18 |
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13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 20 |
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3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
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6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
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13 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 41 |
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5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Total | 220 | 82 | 39 | 99 | 328 | 375 |
Honours
- CFU Caribbean Championship/Caribbean Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1988
- Fourth place (3): 1978, 1983, 1998
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Antigua y Barbuda para niños