Much like she did earlier this year, Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Asha James has once again launched a scathing critique of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), as she called out what she sees as blatant neglect of the national women’s team—this time with just three months to go before the start of the 2025 Concacaf Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

James, in a Facebook post on Friday, expressed deep frustration at the continued absence of key elements necessary for tournament readiness, despite the looming October start of the qualifiers.

"Starting in approximately three months are the Women's World Cup qualifiers. Would you believe that? Our senior women's team also has World Cup hopes, and yet we are being neglected. We are in the middle of June, basically July, with no head coach, no friendlies, and no local pool training. It is as if we don't exist," James said.

The upcoming qualifiers represent the first of two competitive hurdles for teams seeking to book a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Trinidad and Tobago must first top their group in the 2025-26 Concacaf Women’s Qualifiers to advance to the championship phase. From there, only a semifinal berth guarantees direct World Cup qualification, while quarterfinal losers will enter a play-in for the remaining spots.

James, who raised similar alarms in March, questioned how a team could be expected to succeed on the international stage without adequate preparation time or leadership.

"People want positions and have no idea how to progress our team in the right direction. There's no way three months before a major tournament like this and nothing is in place as yet. Teams start preparing years in advance for World Cups, but the Trinidad and Tobago women's team starts two or three months before. It's clear to see they don't believe in us women getting to the World Cup," she argued.

The 25-year-old's criticism extended to the TTFA’s leadership, as she questioned both its commitment and vision for the women’s programme.

"Actions speak louder than words. How can you claim that there's no money as the president of the FA to start our program? Doesn't FIFA allocate money each year towards women separately from the men's? That statement says it all...never had a vision for women; hence, NOTHING is in place mere months before a big tournament like this," the outspoken player noted.

That said, James also had a warning for the TTFA hierarchy, hinting that accountability would soon be demanded.
“#electiontimewillcomeagain #soon #whenwillwebetakenseriously," she ended.