Bermuda will be forced to play all their matches in the Concacaf Nations League away from home as a result of lighting issues at Flora Duffy Stadium.

John Barry Nusum’s side were meant to travel to St Lucia for two matches before playing at home twice during the extended upcoming international window. However, no matches will now be taking place on island.

A statement from the Bermuda Football Association confirmed that the national team will have to travel to play all six Gold Cup qualifiers in the next few months.

“The scheduled replacement of the field lights at the Dame Flora Duffy South Field will not be complete in time for Bermuda to host the group matches as scheduled in October.

“Hence, the team will now play in Barbados. The final group matches will be played in Guadeloupe in November.

“The senior men’s national team begin their Concacaf Nations League campaign during the combined September and October international match window when they travel to St Lucia to play Guadeloupe and group hosts St Lucia. From there, the team will travel to Barbados to play Barbados twice.”

Work has been taking place at the National Sports Centre with Musco Sports Lighting LLC hired to upgrade all LED sports lights on site to international football, cricket and rugby standards, including associated electrical and structural works and installation.

The contract, valued at $725,000, has a start date of July 1 and an end date of March 31 next year.

David Sabir, the BFA general secretary, stated that the association informed Concacaf on time that it was not in a position to host the matches.

“We’re responsible and it makes sense that we inform them [Concacaf] that’s why we’re not playing in Bermuda,” Sabir said.

“It would have been nice to play at home. In the group, only one team should have not been playing at home, and that was Barbados, but because we couldn’t host, they are now hosting. You still have to play 90 minutes on the field and likewise they would have to go to all the other venues to play and still have to perform on the day.”

With a month before the start of the qualifiers, new coach Nusum declared that his players will be ready to deliver good performances in the upcoming fixtures regardless of where they are playing.

“It will not be ideal but that’s the challenge in front of us,” the coach said.

“God doesn’t make mistakes and it’s our job to put together a good performance on the pitch and control the things we can control.

“I’m not expecting any drop in our performance and there are no excuses in our camp. Our goal is that the next time we are playing in front of Bermuda fans, they can’t wait to see us put on another performance that they have heard about or seen on the television during these matches.

“We want the Bermudian people truly buzzing to see this next version of Bermudian talent. It will start with these next matches regardless of where they are played.”

It remains to be seen if one of Bermuda’s star players, Nahki Wells, will be available for any of the rescheduled matches.

The Luton Town forward indicated this week that he was willing to represent his country but his past few appearances for the national team have come in matches at home and he has not travelled to some away games.

Wells made a sensational return to the squad in October 2024 when netted a first-half hat-trick and had a late assist as Bermuda thrashed Dominica 6-1 in the Nations League.

The forward also featured in the 2-1 victory over Antigua & Barbuda before missing the heavy loss to Dominican Republic a few days later.