The Caribbean Football Union's 2016 U-20 Championship is also the qualifying tournament for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship (itself the qualifying tournament for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup). As such, it is an important and potentially conclusive part of the international cycle for the current crop of Caribbean U-20s, which perhaps explains why Noah Powder answered his country's call - costing himself a near certain role in the latter stages of NYRB II's march to the 2016 USL Cup.
Fortunately for the New York Red Bulls' Academy graduate, he will not have to second-guess his decision to join Trinidad and Tobago's U-20 squad for the CFU tournament. Powder started all three of T&T's group stage games in Curacao. His team started and finished its group with 0-0 draws (against Cuba and Haiti, respectively) and beat St. Luicia, 4-0. Powder scored in the big win.
T&T finished second in its group - behind Haiti - which was sufficient to qualify for next year's CONCACAF U-20 Championship. The other four Caribbean teams qualified for the regional tournament are Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Haiti, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
More immediately, however, the CFU tournament is still ongoing. Up next for the young Soca Warriors is a semifinal against Antigua and Barbuda on October 28. Bermuda and Haiti will contest the other CFU U-20 semifinal.
The final and third-place playoff are scheduled for October 30.