🇹🇹 vs. 🇺🇸: After making a career in Latin America, Copa América chance is special for David

PLUS: El Tri in trouble? Canada's revenge? And more from the Nations League in the Conca-catch-up!

Everyone on Trinidad and Tobago’s squad wants to qualify for the 2024 Copa América, but nobody on that squad wants to make it more than Aubrey David.

The 34-year-old defender was willing to go wherever he needed to make a career as a professional soccer player.

That mainly has meant in Costa Rica, where David currently anchors the Cartaginés back line, just a few years removed from a pair of title wins with Saprissa. Between those two teams he played for another Costa Rican grande, Alajuelense, and for Aucas in Ecuador.

So, getting to a tournament in which Trinidad and Tobago could potentially play teams like Ecuador and maybe Costa Rica would be special for David.

“Personally, it would mean a lot. I think it’s the biggest tournament (South Americans) have, and it’d be an honor to play in it,” he said in an interview last week in Austin. “For a nation like Trinidad and Tobago to play in Copa América for the first time, it’s going to be massive not only for the players but the nation.

“I think it’ll do a lot of good for us, a lot of positive things. I think it’s an amazing opportunity.”

After conceding three second-half goals to the United States in a 3-0 loss in the first leg of the quarterfinal series, everyone in the country knows they may have to do it the hard way: A March showdown in North Texas that could well be against a Costa Rica team David knows well.

His experience in Costa Rica hasn’t always been a love story. The first time he signed with Saprissa he went out on loan to FC Dallas but after he didn’t stick in MLS, Saprissa had to sell David since its foreign-player slots were full. There were no hard feelings when Saprissa called again, and all was well as he helped the team to a Concacaf League crown and a pair of league titles.