Teenager Daion Swan-DeSilva is delighted to be experiencing life with the Bermuda squad in Saudi Arabia.

The 17-year-old North Village midfielder is among the 23-strong squad taking part in the inaugural Fifa Series in the Middle East and could potentially make his senior debut in the team’s opening fixture against Brunei today (4pm).

“I’m very delighted to be called upon for the senior squad,” Swan-DeSilva told The Royal Gazette.

“Many don’t get this opportunity and at my age it’s a great feeling to know that I’m doing really well with my football and that I’ve been selected to take it to the next level internationally.

“I feel this experience is exactly what I needed just to add to my game and learn the smallest details from my team-mates who are showing their quality and sharpness every day in training.

“I feel this is definitely a learning experience, but a great one and I hope for many more.”

Swan-DeSilva is one of five players in Michael Findlay’s squad to have represented the island at the Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship qualifiers in St Kitts & Nevis last month, including Harry Twite, Riley Robinson, Sachiel Ming and Aunde Todd.

Bermuda Under-20 captain Twite, Todd and Robinson have already been part of the senior national set-up while Ming joins Swan-DeSilva in being called up for the first time.

Senior Bermuda player Lejaun Simmons believes the island’s international future is in good hands with the crop of young players coach Findlay has at his disposal.

“The young players deserve it and they’re here for a reason,” Simmons said.

“Age doesn’t have a number when it comes to talent and all of them have transitioned well and held their own, so hats off to them. The future is bright and it’s been a joy to play with them.”

Bermuda are one of two Concacaf members, alongside Guyana, invited to take part in the Fifa Series, which has presented Findlay with a golden opportunity to prepare for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The national team will face Honduras, Antigua & Barbuda, Cuba and Cayman Islands in group A in the second stage of Concacaf qualification, with the first window of fixtures taking place in June and the second window in June 2025.

Findlay is confident that his players will impress as they attempt to secure their places in the squad with the World Cup campaign just three months away.

“They know how important team and individual performances are as we continue to build the depth and quality of the programme,” Findlay said.

“They all want to be in the 23 players we select for June's World Cup qualification so this is a real opportunity. Our key objective is to focus on ourselves on and off the field as we advance our overall mindset.

“Regarding our performance standard, we wish to take advantage of this great opportunity to work closely with the squad on our game model and continued growth within the group of players, which we wish to assist us in the preparation for June’s World Cup qualification.”

Findlay and his coaching staff have taken full advantage of technology to run the rule over Brunei in the lead up to today’s match.

“The game of today is fortunate to benefit from technology, and so we are able to do our research and due diligence on the opponents effectively,” he said.

Findlay says that preparations for this match and the game against Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finalists Guinea have gone to plan.

“We have been treated extremely well by both Fifa and Saudi Arabia Football,” he said.

“It is a great experience for our players along with providing an opportunity for all involved at the BFA, players and staff to experience numerous examples regarding the preparation, support and standards at the highest level of the international game, which we must strive to emulate as a football nation moving forward within all our programme. Aim high to drive us to success.”

The Canadian says the players have adjusted well to their new surroundings and the region’s warmer climate.

“The team has adjusted well given the overall effects of travel, time zones and the cultural differences, which you must take into consideration regarding logistics,” he said.

“The climate has been pleasant given what it could be and we have designed our training to avoid the hottest periods of the day but still expose the players so they may experience heat adaptation, which is important for our own region of Concacaf.”