Under 20 Benna Boys Captain and Teammates Meet Syrian Football Star Omar Al Somah

Preparations for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship are gathering pace, and they got off to a memorable start on Tuesday when three returning members of Antigua and Barbuda's national squad crossed paths at VC Bird International Airport with one of the Middle East's most celebrated footballers.

Captain Keyonte George and Conroy Browne, both based in Germany, along with UK-based Marco Micheal, arrived at VC Bird International Airport on Tuesday and were welcomed by ABFA General Secretary Zorol Barthley. The players will now join the rest of the squad as training intensifies ahead of the team's departure on July 2.

An Unexpected and Inspiring Meeting

Their arrival was marked by an unexpected encounter with Syrian international footballer Omar Al Somah, who was also at the airport. Al Somah, who plays professionally in Saudi Arabia and is regarded as one of Syria's most accomplished footballers, spent time speaking with the young Antiguan players.

According to Barthley, Al Somah expressed admiration for the team and indicated a willingness to help create opportunities for Antiguan players by facilitating contacts with clubs in the Middle East.

"These are the moments that change careers," Barthley said. "For our captain and his teammates to interact with a player of Omar Al Somah's calibre, on the very day they return home to prepare for a CONCACAF Championship, says everything about the trajectory this squad is on."

Mexico Bound — via St. Lucia and Panama

Antigua and Barbuda is one of 12 nations to qualify for the 2026 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship and is the only representative from the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union in the tournament. The team has been drawn to face Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica in Group Stage matches scheduled for July 24, 27, and 30 respectively at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico.

The national squad is scheduled to leave Antigua on July 2 for a 43-day programme that includes stops in St. Lucia, Panama, and Mexico City before arriving in Puebla for the competition.

The tournament serves as a qualification pathway to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

For a small island nation competing against CONCACAF heavyweights — including hosts Mexico and regional powerhouse Costa Rica — the road to Mexico will test the Benna Boys' resolve, character, and quality. But with overseas-based professionals already returning to the island and a memorable airport encounter with a Middle Eastern football icon already under their belts, the camp has begun on an encouraging and energising note.