In the last several editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup, Martinique have become a regular fixture.

The Caribbean side will be making their fourth straight Gold Cup appearance and eighth overall when they take the field in the Gold Cup Prelims.

Martinique’s first appearance came back in the second edition of the tournament in 1993 and since then they have played in the 2002, 2003 and 2013 editions before their streak of four straight berths in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

Martinique have always been a tough foe for any opponent, and they enjoyed their best run in 2002 when they reached the quarterfinals, only to narrowly fall to Canada on a penalty shootout.

When one thinks of Martinique in Gold Cup competition, the name that immediately comes to mind is legendary striker Kevin Parsemain, who finished as the joint-top scorer in the 2017 tournament with three goals, including a brace against eventual champions United States.

Parsemain finished his Gold Cup career with five goals, scoring as well against 2019 champions Mexico in that year’s group stage.

Martinique have also etched their names into Gold Cup lore, as it was Martinique player Kevin Fortune who scored the 1,000^th goal in Gold Cup history when he found the back of the net against Haiti in the 2021 group stage.

Daniel Herelle (12) and Stephane Abaul (10) rank as Martinique’s all-time appearances leaders in the Gold Cup, with Parsemain not far behind with nine games, along with DF Jean-Sylvian Babin and Sebastien Cretinoir.

Martinique confirmed their place in the Prelims after a third-place finish in Group B of League A of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League.

Some of the standout players from that campaign were Mickael Biron, who scored a sensational goal against Costa Rica, and Cyril Mandouki, who supplied the assist on the Biron goal. GK Yannis Clementia also played a key role in making 15 saves.

Martinique’s Prelims campaign begins on June 16 versus Saint Lucia, and with a win they would face either Suriname or Puerto Rico for the chance to land in Group C against Central American foes Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador.