Sporting Kansas City Academy forward Kaile Auvray made his competitive senior national team debut for Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, March 24, in the Soca Warriors' 3-0 win over The Bahamas. Auvray also started Monday night in Trinidad and Tobago’s 1-1 draw with Nicaragua.
The 18-year-old Academy player linked up with Trinidad and Tobago for a pair of friendlies against Jamaica in early March after participating in Sporting Kansas City II’s 2023 preseason presented by Central Bank. He started the first match on March 12, a 1-0 win for the Soca Warriors, and came on as a second-half sub in a scoreless draw two days later.
Auvray was born in Caen, France, and came up through the LOSC Lille Youth Academy in Lille, France. After moving to the United States in the summer of 2022, he joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy in January 2023. At 18 years old, he plays for the Sporting KC U-19s, who are led by head coach and Academy Director Declan Jogi. Boasting national team experience with France's U-17s, the U.S. U-17s, Saint-Martin and Trinidad and Tobago, Auvray nearly helped the Soca Warriors earn Concacaf Nations League promotion, falling just two points short of group leaders Nicaragua.
Friday, Trinidad and Tobago faced off with the Bahamas in Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas in their penultimate Concacaf Nations League B match. Auvray, having earned experience in the March friendlies, earned his first start in a competitive match for Trinidad and Tobago.
The forward did not directly contribute on any goals in the 3-0 win; however, he provided numerous dangerous actions and nearly scored a worldly free kick in the 70th minute, pinging his effort off the crossbar. With three points in hand, the Soca Warriors returned home to Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Trinidad and Tobago, to face group leaders Nicaragua.
With a win, Trinidad and Tobago would have overtaken La Azul y Blanco, but a 1-1 draw affirmed their place as second in the group. Auvray earned his second consecutive national team start and nearly found the goal in the 20th minute, but a later arriving defender deterred his effort. The visitors jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the 27th minute, but the hosts leveled in the 41st on a Joevin Jones penalty conversion.
The 1-1 scoreline held despite Auvray’s best efforts and a clever shot on target. Nicaragua punched their tickets to both Concacaf Nations League A play as well as the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. Trinidad and Tobago will participate in Gold Cup prelims later this year.
Auvray will return to the Sporting KC Academy following his time with Trinidad and Tobago and will look to play a key role in the U-19s' MLS NEXT competitions, including MLS NEXT Flex as well as the MLS NEXT Playoffs and Showcase.
