Cayman Islands Football Association

Senior Men’s National Team: Historic Promotion to Nations League B

The Cayman Islands Men’s Senior National Team has officially made history by securing their first-ever promotion to League B of the Concacaf Nations League. Under the guidance of Head Coach Joey Jap Tjong, the squad demonstrated immense tactical growth and resilience—described by the coach as playing like “monsters on the field”—during a dramatic 1-1 draw against St. Kitts and Nevis to close out their Group Stage. Zachary Scott’s crucial 60th-minute volley, coupled with favorable results across Group A, punched Cayman’s ticket to both League B and the CNL Play-In. This Nations League cycle has been defined by major milestones for the federation, highlighted earlier in the tournament by Cayman’s Elijah Seymour scoring the 1,000th goal in CNL history. It is a powerful statement of intent, signaling a new era of potential and competitive quality for Cayman football.

SWNT Building a Resilient Future Core

The Cayman Islands Senior Women’s National Team is embracing a forward-thinking rebuilding phase by heavily integrating youth into the senior squad. During the final phase of the 2025/26 Concacaf W Qualifiers, a squad composed largely of U-20 players faced top-tier regional opponents. Despite tough matchups, the team showed tremendous fight—highlighted by an early Molly Kehoe goal in their resilient final showing against Grenada. Under Head Coach Michael Johnson, this senior-level exposure is a deliberate strategy to physically and tactically prepare this young core for the upcoming U-20 World Cup Qualifiers and the long-term future of the women’s program.

“Life Skills and Laces”

CIFA’s commitment to growing the game at the community level was on full display during their annual “Life Skills and Laces” Girls Football Festival at the Centre for Excellence last October. This grassroots initiative goes beyond tactical drills, using football as a vehicle to teach confidence, teamwork, and leadership to young girls. Furthermore, CIFA’s recent participation in the inaugural Concacaf Grassroots Football Conference in Sint Maarten signals their dedication to aligning local community festivals with the new regional Concacaf Grassroots Charter, ensuring safe, inclusive, and structured pathways for all.

Cayman Islands Youth National Teams Compete on Regional Stage

The Cayman Islands’ youth football programs saw significant international action in August 2025, with both the Boys Under-15 and Girls Under-14 National Teams competing in major regional tournaments. The U-15 Boys, recently promoted to League B due to successful development efforts, traveled to Aruba for the Concacaf Championship, facing Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Guyana in Group C. Meanwhile, the U-14 Girls traveled to Trinidad & Tobago for the CFU Challenge Series to compete in Tier II against Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Turks & Caicos, and Guyana, following a strong preparation camp in the Dominican Republic. Both tournaments served as vital developmental opportunities for the young athletes.

Referee Excellence and Digital Innovation

For the 2026 cycle, the Cayman Islands reached an unprecedented milestone in football officiating, boasting an all-time high of eight officials on the FIFA International Referees List.  Kevon Harris and Anny Arriaga Zuniga have been appointed as new FIFA assistant referees, making them eligible for international matches just three years after joining the local association. They join Benjamin Whitty, Kedeen Foster, Michael Akangou, Jonathon Hughes, Dwight Cummings, and DeeAnn Foster, all of whom successfully retained their FIFA badges for the upcoming cycle. CIFA is also modernizing its fan and stakeholder engagement, having recently launched its first-ever official mobile app to streamline communications, match updates, and domestic league visibility across the three-island territory.

CIFA Hosts Concacaf Executive Mentorship Program (EMP) Workshop

The Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) recently hosted a two-day Concacaf Executive Mentorship Program workshop at its Centre of Excellence to strengthen leadership, governance, and football administration. The strategic sessions provided local football leaders with the essential tools and regional best practices needed to streamline organizational structures. By reinforcing these off-field operational pillars, the initiative establishes a sustainable foundation designed to directly elevate the quality, growth, and long-term success of football across the Cayman Islands.