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JFF intent on ‘getting it right’ for playoffs
November 21, 2025
Having learnt their route to the World Cup through the intercontinental playoffs, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is determined to get it right this time around as they hunt for a second-ever FIFA World Cup berth.
Jamaica missed out on automatic qualification to the World Cup when they finished second in Group B of the final round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers.
Their second-place finish, however, meant they advanced to the intercontinental playoffs for a second shot at qualification, alongside Suriname, DR Congo, Iraq, New Caledonia and Bolivia.
The Boyz have been drawn against New Caledonia in pathway one, and should they win, face a decisive game against DR Congo.
Speaking about the draw, Rudolph Speid, chairman of the JFF technical committee, said they are ready for the task ahead. He is confident the Boyz can advance.
"We're not daunted by the fact that we missed out on a qualification like that because we think we can make it just the same," he said.
"All is not lost. We have learnt a lot over the last six games, the qualifying period, and I think we can put it to good use."
GETTING IT RIGHT
JFF president Michael Ricketts said they will learn from the mistakes of their failed qualification campaign as he vowed to get it right this time around.
One such mistake, Ricketts said, was the appointment of former head coach Steve McClaren, who had resigned from the post following Jamaica's scoreless draw against Curacao on Tuesday.
Appointed last year to replace Heimir Hallgrimsson, Ricketts said McClaren had proven to be the wrong man for the job.
"To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. We engaged Heimir Hallgrimsson, then he left. We thought Steve McClaren would have been a good replacement; it has turned out that he has not been such a good replacement," Ricketts said.
"We will reorganise. We have a second bite of the cherry. We will put things together, and, of course, have an emergency meeting with the technical staff, and we will put an interim coach in place," he continued.
"We are intent on getting it right for the March qualifiers."
