Jamaica’s nationwide soccer staff, the Reggae Boyz, will lead Group E within the second spherical of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted collectively by Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
CONCACAF revealed the draw for the qualifiers at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, presenting the teams for the second spherical of qualification.
Jamaica will compete in opposition to Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Dominica, and the winners of the first-round match between the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the USA Virgin Islands (USVI), scheduled for March 2024.
First English-speaking Caribbean staff to take part within the World Cup
The Reggae Boyz, coached by René Simões, made historical past as the primary English-speaking Caribbean staff to take part within the World Cup in the course of the 1998 event in France.
Since then, Jamaica has not certified for the World Cup, however the staff boasts a number of gamers who often characteristic in high leagues just like the English Premier League, Main League Soccer, and the United Soccer League, which provides them the expertise pool to purpose for a World Cup berth within the subsequent two years.
Different English-speaking Caribbean groups within the qualifiers embrace Trinidad & Tobago, which is a part of Group B with Costa Rica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, and the Bahamas. Group A consists of Honduras, Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and Cuba, whereas Group C options Haiti, Aruba, Barbados, Curaçao, and St Lucia.
Guyana joins Group D
Guyana, promoted to the top-flight of the CONCACAF Nations League final 12 months, joins Group D alongside Panama, Belize, Montserrat, and Nicaragua. Group F contains El Salvador, Puerto Rico, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and the winners of the first-round match between Turks & Caicos Islands and Anguilla.
As Canada, Mexico, and the USA are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup, they obtain automated qualification, and the remaining 30 groups within the confederation will compete within the CONCACAF qualifiers. The primary spherical of qualification takes place in March this 12 months among the many 4 lowest-ranked groups, together with BVI, USVI, TCI, and Anguilla.
The second spherical will characteristic single round-robin matches with six group winners and 6 runners-up advancing to the 12-team third spherical of qualification.
The second spherical of qualifiers will span two match days in June this 12 months and one other two match days in June subsequent 12 months.
