**Rio Cardines** continues to build on his international experience, having been selected once again for the Trinidad and Tobago senior national team in the third round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying in September.
The full-back played the full 90 minutes in both of Trinidad’s opening Group B fixtures, starting at right-back and delivering composed performances across both matches.
The Soca Warriors opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Curaçao, a result that ended a four-match winless run and saw Cardines earn his fifth senior international start.
The second fixture saw Trinidad travel to face group leaders Jamaica at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston. Cardines again completed the full match, though the visitors fell to a 2-0 defeat despite a spirited display.
After two matchdays, the Soca Warriors sit third in Group B with one point. Jamaica lead the group with six points, followed by Curaçao on four. Bermuda round out the group, yet to record a point.
Four matches remain in the group stage, which continues in the October and November international windows.
Dwight Yorke’s side are set to face Bermuda home and away, host Jamaica, and travel to Curaçao. A second-place finish could offer a path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup via an inter-confederation play-off.
Cardines made his senior debut in May at the Unity Cup, hosted at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, featuring for the full 90 minutes in a narrow 3-2 defeat to Jamaica. During the match, he struck the post with a free-kick that led directly to a rebound goal.
Since then, he has featured regularly for the national side, appearing in both World Cup qualifiers and Gold Cup matches, including back-to-back 1-1 draws with Haiti and Saudi Arabia.
Trinidad progressed to this stage of qualification after finishing as runners-up in their second-round group - level on points with Grenada but advancing on superior goal difference, having scored 16 goals across four matches.
Cardines' continued involvement at international level reflects his growing role within the Trinidad setup as they push for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Defender **Mofe Jemide** was named in the England U20 squad as they began a new international campaign with a friendly against Italy at Chesterfield’s SMH Group Stadium on Friday evening (19:30 BST).
Jemide started the match on the bench before making his Young Lions U20 debut in the second half, replacing Manchester United’s Ayden Heaven with the score level at 1-1.
Despite sustained attacking pressure from Ben Futcher’s side, it was Italy who found the breakthrough late on, with Jamal Iddrissou securing a 2-1 win for the visitors.
The 18-year-old is familiar with the international stage, having previously made 10 appearances for England at youth level in 2022.
His earlier experience includes participating in the UEFA European U17 Championship and contributing to England’s qualification for the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup.
Now part of a talented U20 group that went unbeaten during the 2024/25 season, Jemide joins a setup looking to regroup ahead of the next international window following a narrow defeat in their campaign opener.
**Charlie Walker-Smith** was selected for the Wales U19 squad for a UEFA preparatory mini-tournament held in North Wales this September.
It forms a key part of Cymru’s build-up to next summer’s UEFA U19 European Championship, which will also be hosted in the region.
Wales opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Austria U19s at Colwyn Bay on Saturday, 6th September (19:00 BST). Walker-Smith was named in the starting XI and completed the full 90 minutes.
In the final fixture of the tournament, Wales faced Belgium on Tuesday. Walker-Smith was named among the substitutes but did not feature, as Cymru were defeated 3-1. The call-up sees Walker-Smith’s youth international tally rise to 16 caps to date.
Midfielder **Matteo Dashi** joined up with the Albania U19s squad for a triangular friendly tournament held at the Albanian Football Association’s “House of Football” training centre.
In the opening fixture against Moldova U19s on Thursday (16:00 BST), Dashi was named among the substitutes but did not feature - Albania fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat courtesy of a first-half stoppage-time goal.
The tournament continued with Moldova edging a seven-goal thriller against Kosovo U19s, before Albania returned to action on Monday morning and concluded their campaign with a 1-0 loss to Kosovo.
The tournament provided valuable preparation as Albania continue to build towards upcoming UEFA U19s European Championship qualifiers.
Goalkeeper **Luca Benetton** was involved in England U18s’ recent double-header against Italy in Rome.
Benetton started the opening fixture, where England were narrowly beaten 2-1 in a closely fought contest. He was named among the substitutes for the return match two days later, with England responding strongly to secure a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Oscar Johnson and Joshua Abe.
The promising shot-stopper continues to gain valuable experience on the international stage as he progresses through the national team pathway.
Elsewhere, **Dean Benamar** and **Joel Drake-Thomas** received call-ups to represent England at U19 and U17 level respectively. However, both players later withdrew from their squads, with Leicester City’s Hugo De Lisle called up in Drake-Thomas’ place.
In the younger age groups, the Academy was also proud to see representation across further international development opportunities. Platon received a call-up to the Moldova U15 squad, while **Jack** and **Fletcher** were selected to attend the England Goalkeeper Development Camp.
_Keep track of how our Academy players got on this international window below!_
_All times BST._
**Trinidad and Tobago - Rio Cardines**
* Saturday, 6th Sep (01:00 BST): Trinidad and Tobago 0-0 Curaçao (Cardines played the full 90 minutes)
* Wednesday, 10th Sep (01:00 BST): Jamaica 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago (Cardines played the full 90 minutes)
**England U20s – Mofe Jemide**
* Friday, 5th Sep (19:30 BST): England U20s 1-2 Italy U20s (Jemide started on the bench and replaced Manchester United's Ayden Heaven in the second half)
**Wales U19s – Charlie Walker-Smith**
* Saturday, 6th Sep (19:00 BST): Wales U19s 2-2 Austria U19s (Walker-Smith played the full 90 minutes)
* Tuesday, 9th September (19:00 BST): Wales U19s 1-3 Belgium U19s (Walker-Smith was an unused substitute)
**Albania U19s - Matteo Dashi**
* Thursday, 4th Sep (16:00 BST): Albania U19s 0-1 Moldova U19s (Dashi was an unused substitute)
* Monday, 8th September (09:30 BST): Albania U19s 0-1 Kosovo U19s (Dashi was an unused substitute)