That year, Paul Caligiuri’s winner at National Stadium – as Hasely Crawford was then known – lifted the United States into the World Cup for the first time since 1950.

No reason was given for the change after the Soca Warriors had played nearly all of their previous home qualifiers in Port-of-Spain, but TTFA vice president Ewing Davis has previously mentioned the dual benefits of lesser expenses and more visceral crowd support at the smaller venue.

The announcement managed to draw a hint of criticism from Ato Boldon himself, the four-time Olympic medalist who is the stadium’s namesake.

“Fans absolutely hated going to the last WCQ game played there, so this is not a good look,” Boldon tweeted on Friday afternoon.

USA will face Trinidad on 10 October at 10,000-seat Ato Boldon Stadium Americans could enter uncertain of qualifying for first time since 1989