Booking a World Cup Berth Is Ultimate Goal For Jamaica
Reggae Boyz prepare to tackle minnows New Caledonia in a FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off tournament in Mexico
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz lie just two victories away from making their return to the coveted World Cup finals, for the first time since making their debut in 1998.
Interim coach Rudolph Speid, who stepped up to replace former England manager Steve McClaren last November, has named a largely UK-based squad for Jamaica’s last shot at reaching the 2026 World Cup.
He has put his trust in veteran goalkeeper and skipper Andre Blake, who has always been a safe pair of hands. While Aston Villa ace Leon Bailey and winger Renaldo Cephas have been tasked with creating goalscoring opportunities.
Yet Speid, who won three Jamaica Premier League titles and scooped the 2024 Caribbean Cup with Cavalier SC, has omitted a plethora of high-profile players to tackle South Pacific side New Caledonia in Mexico tomorrow.
Notable stalwarts that Speid has overlooked include Al-Sailiya SC team-mates Mason Holgate and Mikhail Antonio, who regularly compete in the highly lucrative Qatar Stars League.
His 27-strong squad has been clipped, following injuries to winger Demarai Gray and midfielder Kevon Lambert. Tivoli Gardens striker Nickalia Fuller has been called up for Birmingham City’s Gray, with no replacement announced for US-based Lambert.
Jamaica’s semi-final showdown against FIFA ranked no.150 New Caledonia will be the first meeting between these teams. The winner will tackle Africa titans DR Congo on Tuesday, with the victorious nation to join Colombia, European heavyweights Portugal and Uzbekistan for group games at the 2026 World Cup.
McClaren quit the Boyz having failed during their CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign. Curacao, Haiti and Panama booked their World Cup spots, while Jamaica and Suriname were given a final opportunity by progressing to the Inter-Continental Play-Off Tournaments.
There will be half-a-dozen nations competing in Mexico for the final two slots at the expanded 48-team World Cup finals this summer. Suriname face Bolivia tomorrow, with the winner to play Iraq on Tuesday with the prize to secure a place in football’s biggest competition.
Oceania minnows New Caledonia will prove a tricky task for Jamaica, who have lost only three of their past 14 games.
The French territory, which lies over 1,200 kilometres east of Australia, has never reached the World Cup finals. Understandably their Inter-Continental Play-Off participation has reached fever pitch across New Caledonia, because if successful they will become the inaugural Pacific Island team to reach the World Cup.
Head coach Johann Sidaner left his role as youth team manager at his hometown club of Nantes and travel over 10,000 miles to take the reins at New Caledonia in 2022.
Sidaner has called up former France U21 international Angelo Fulgini to bolster his midfield. The 29-year-old, who only switched his allegiance from France to New Caledonia last December, could make his debut for Les Cagous against Jamaica. He plays in the Saudi Arabia top tier for Al-Taawoun, on loan from French giants Lens.
New Caledonia captain Cesar Zeoula plies his trade as a whizzy winger for French fifth tier outfit US Chauvigny, while versatile veteran Morgan Mathelon can be deployed as left-back or left midfielder.
France-based 37-year-old Georges Gope-Fenepej is expected to spearhead their attack alongside Germain Haewegene, who scored a stoppage time goal in November’s 2-0 triumph over Gibraltar. That success was the first time that a Pacific Island team defeated a European side.
New Caledonia comprise of numerous part-timers, who play in their 10-team Super Ligue, and only became a FIFA member in 2004 after receiving permission from the French Football Federation to apply. Granted their own official national anthem in 2008, they are only permitted to fly their New Caledonia flag alongside the French tricolour.
The Boyz cannot afford to underestimate New Caledonia. Yet Speid, whose contract with the Jamaica Football Federation expires on 31 March, appears confident of seeing off New Caledonia to set up a do-or-die clash with DR Congo.
The 64-year-old explained: “We know that in these two games the opposition will be high intensity. They’ll play in transition and counterattack. And for every position, these are some of the stats that drive the selection process.”
Jamaica have only played friendlies against teams from the Oceania region, beating New Zealand twice but tasting a pair of defeats at the hands of Australia. To triumph over New Caledonia is anticipated for a nation world-ranked no.70, with a potential contest against DR Congo expected to be a bruising battle for Speid’s troops.
FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Offs Tournament in Mexico
26 March | Jamaica vs New Caledonia (Estadio Akron, Zapopan)
26 March | Bolivia vs Suriname (Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe)
31 March | DR Congo vs Jamaica or New Caledonia (Estadio Akron, Zapopan)
31 March | Iraq vs Bolivia or Suriname (Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe)
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