Bermuda will prepare for upcoming Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers by playing against United Soccer League teams Rhode Island FC and Portland Hearts of Pine in a round-robin tournament at Flora Duffy Stadium next month.

A Bermuda Football Association select squad will take on USL League One expansion side Portland in the opening fixture on February 21 before taking on USL Championship outfit Rhode Island, who are coached by and former Bermuda international Khano Smith, six days later.

“The Bermuda Football Association is happy to welcome Rhode Island FC back to Bermuda,” Mark Wade, the BFA president, said.

“The USL Eastern Conference Champions, led by Bermuda’s Khano Smith, will expose our players, coaches and fans to professional football.

“This year we have added a third element to the series in Portland Hearts of Pine from the USL League One. The camp is an important one for Bermuda as we prepare for Gold Cup prelims in March and World Cup qualifiers in June.”

Smith, whose team won the USL Championship Eastern Conference title in their inaugural season last year and finished runner-up in the USL Championship final after losing 3-0 to Colorado Springs, is looking forward to returning home to prepare for the upcoming season in warmer conditions.

“I think the biggest driver is weather conditions in our home state so that’s first and foremost,” Smith told The Royal Gazette.

“But obviously for me to be able to get to come home and showcase our team to my friends and family and people of Bermuda is something I take pride in because that’s where the professional journey started for me.

“Just to be able to provide the players and fans in Bermuda with professional football is good for the sports industry in Bermuda and then for our players I think it’s a good bonding time for us.

“We had a good time last year and most of them had never been to Bermuda before and got to experience our island, so I think I am being an ambassador on both fronts.”

Smith’s team will face Portland in their opening fixture on February 24.

Rhode Island begin preseason training on Monday before heading to Florida early next month to take part in a two-week training camp at IMG Academy, where they play against MLS Next Pro side Philadelphia Union on February 4 before heading to Orlando to face Major Soccer League outfit Orlando City on February 11.

“Pre-season is as always an important time to lay the foundation for a long season ahead,” Smith said. “We added several key additions to the roster and will look to build off our momentum from last season.

“We are grateful to be returning to two great destinations as we prepare for our first game of the 2025 USL Championship season.”

Smith’s team will kick off their 2025 USL Championship campaign away to Charleston Battery on March 15.