Coach Ezra Hendrickson
Coach of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines national football team, Ezra Hendrickson, believes that qualifying for the 2030 FIFA World Cup is a realistic goal for the country. Speaking on UP Late with Sehon Marshall last Thursday, Hendrickson expressed confidence in the team’s potential, particularly with FIFA’s expansion of the World Cup format.
“With the current FIFA structure adding more teams to the World Cup, I don’t think it’s far-fetched to see us competing in 2030,” he said. “If we plan properly, we have five years. I’m currently working on a four-year plan with the federation, and hopefully, we can stick with it.”
Hendrickson emphasized that the plan should continue regardless of his personal tenure. “Let’s be real — coaches come and go. If the federation decides to sack me — God forbid — I hope the plan continues,” he stated.
Highlighting the team’s young talent, he added, “We have seven players under the age of 25 playing at such a high level, even against a powerhouse like Jamaica. If we stick together and plan properly, come 2030, we should see Vincy Heat competing — and everyone in Concacaf should be talking about this team at a high level.”
He concluded that qualifying for the World Cup would be a monumental achievement for this small nation. “Accomplishing that would be something to remember for all of us — and it can be done.”
