It's been 25 years since Jamaica was truly on the world stage, but the team's Gold Cup run has them looking ready for a return to the big tournaments
By the time the 2026 World Cup comes around, it'll have been 28 years since Jamaica experienced their one and only appearance on that massive stage. 28 long years, some worse than others. They've seemingly always been right there, always ready to take the leap and seal their spot once again but, for one reason or another, something always went wrong.
This time around it feels different. It's early in the 2026 World Cup cycle and much can change between now and qualifying. But, if you're looking to feel smart over the next three years, start buying stock in the Reggae Boyz, because it seems like it's only up from here.
Jamaica have emerged as the most interesting team in the ongoing CONCACAF Gold Cup, having gone unbeaten on their run to the semifinals. It's a tournament that has, unfortunately, taken on less importance for some of the region's heavy-hitters in recent years given the rise of the Nations League, leaving Jamaica to take advantage and make a real run.
The Reggae Boyz are no leftovers, though. This is a team with real talent and a real purpose. Led by several household names from the Premier League, this Jamaica team has evolved massively over the last several years, putting them in a position to become one of CONCACAF's main powers.
Last cycle, it was Canada that emerged, finally making good on their country's vast potential to seal a World Cup spot. This cycle, all signs point to that being Jamaica, as the Reggae Boyz look destined to make noise on the road to 2026 and beyond.
Getty ImagesRecent history
For some time, Jamaica have felt like a 'nearly' team. They've had the ability to go toe-to-toe with some of CONCACAF's powerhouses but, when push came to shove, the Reggae Boyz always seemed to fall just short.
Their biggest moments came in the 2015 and 2017 Gold Cups, as they booked their place in the final both times. In 2015, they defeated the U.S. men's national team in the semis before being beaten by Mexico 3-1 in the final. Two years later, they were back on the same stage after getting semifinal revenge on El Tri, only to fall to the U.S. courtesy of a last-gasp Jordan Morris winner.
Those final appearances, though, gave the Reggae Boyz hope heading into 2022 World Cup qualifying. However, they fell flat on their faces, failing to win any of their first six games in the Octagonal to knock themselves out of the race to Qatar.
For years, the talent has been there with Jamaica, headlined by several MLS stars. Andre Blake, the Philadelphia Union star and Reggae Boyz captain, has long been one of the best goalkeepers in the region. Alvas Powell, Kemar Lawrence, Darren Mattocks and Cory Burke have also proven themselves as good MLS players.
The tide, though, has begun to turn as Jamaica have brought in a new class of player in recent years, with several familiar faces making the decision to represent the Reggae Boyz at international level.
AdvertisementGettyBig time recruits
For years, the USMNT have been hailed as the best recruiters in the region, having secured commitments from a number of young stars. But Jamaica has been right up there with them when it comes to convincing dual nationals to represent them.
Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Ethan Pinnock… all Premier League regulars, all Jamaica stars. Each of the above spent their formative years in England, and several even earned youth caps for the Three Lions, but, in search of international football, they have found a home in Jamaica.
“When you grow up playing in England and in the England system, it’s easy to think that’s all there is – but it’s not," Gray recently told the Athletic. “There’s a lot more to football, and sitting down with the Jamaica manager widened my eyes and made me see how I can really try to help the nation and bring my skills and experience to Jamaica.
“Being a Premier League player, I want to bring what I’ve learned and my leadership skills to that level of football. Hopefully, I can help.”
Antonio is likely the most famous of that bunch, with the West Ham star immediately becoming a key figure upon committing in 2021. His arrival was seen as a seminal moment for Jamaica, with Antonio having already proven himself as a top Premier League player throughout nearly a decade in the English top flight.
“One thing with the Jamaican team is that there’s a lot of potential, there’s a lot of quality and people are starting to turn up," Antonio said this summer. "We’ve got a few Premier League players now with Demarai Gray, Bobby Reid, myself, Ethan Pinnock and Leon Bailey. It’s not just the Premier League players. [Andre] Blake has been goalkeeper for the year, for the last few years, in America, so it’s a good squad being built."
Antonio can't do it on his own, but, as he said, he doesn't have to. Leon Bailey is a regular for Aston Villa, while Gray, a former England U21 international, committed to the team this June and has already made a splash.
JFF President Michael Ricketts has confirmed that the federation plans on going after more English-raised dual nationals in the years to come, telling Sportsmax TV in Jamaica in 2021: “Looking at the list I see Andre Gray, I see Demarai Gray, I see Isaac Hayden – who himself called the JFF to express his desire.
“Mason Holgate, Liam Moore – who has actually acquired his Jamaican passport – Nathan Redmond, Kemar Roofe and Ivan Toney. All of these are in the process of acquiring their Jamaican passport.”
The federation did miss out on perhaps its biggest target, Jamaica-born Raheem Sterling, although that one was probably never realistic given his prospects for England. However, there are clearly plenty of stars abroad capable of lifting the level of the Reggae Boyz, although the federation has learned the importance of picking the right ones in recent years.
GettyChemistry issues
During qualification for the 2022 World Cup, FIFA produced a series called "Captains", where they followed the likes of Thiago Silva and Luka Modric as they captained their sides on the road to Qatar.
Blake, too, was featured, with Jamaica offering an inside look into the qualification process. We now know that campaign was doomed, although it still feels like it should never have gone as poorly as it did.
With so much talent, Jamaica should be among the teams pushing for one of those two four spots in CONCACAF, but they finished a distant fifth behind Costa Rica during qualifying. The documentary offered a glimpse into chemistry issues, which seemingly centered around one familiar face: Ravel Morrison.
The ex-Manchester United man committed to Jamaica in 2020, making his debut in November of thar year. He has earned 18 caps but, in a clip from that FIFA documentary, it seems like he struggled to integrate himself into the Reggae Boyz squad.
"We have one big problem, one somebody that wreaks havoc," Blake said. "One. He talks the talk and says, 'On the ball, I'm Messi'. I said 'No, you do the most'. He steps on the pitch and there are two men around him and Antonio is right there, and he tries to shoot the ball. I said: 'Just make it simple! You see all this but you don't do what you say.' I say that to him, and he tries talking back and I got mad because, if nobody can talk to you, don't talk to nobody, but he talks the most on the field!
"Don't tell me you know how to do it. You're only going to get me mad. You're trying to fix everybody else. If you want to fix it, look in the mirror."
Morrison has remained a part of the team, earning three caps this year before being left off the Gold Cup roster due to his club situation. The midfielder is currently not playing, having been removed from D.C. United's plans for this season.
In stark contrast, the chemistry at the Gold Cup seems to be at an all-time high, with a video of Blake leading the team in the performance of John Legend's "All of Me" going viral early in the tournament.
“I think there are bits and pieces that are falling into place," said assistant coach John Wall, "and I think we are becoming even more and more unified in our ways and how we want to win games and how we want to perform overall. That’s generally my impression, so far, being in the bubble as I am."
GettyGold Cup so far
Led by their group of Premier League stars, Jamaica have emerged as legitimate candidates to win this Gold Cup.
They drew with the USMNT 1-1 in the opening game, although they will feel they should have won. A late goal scored by Brandon Vazquez robbed the Reggae Boyz of a statement win, but it certainly hasn't slowed them down.
No, Jamaica have blasted all in their way since, crushing Trinidad & Tobago 4-1 before smashing Saint Kitts & Nevis 5-0 to finish second in the group on goal difference. In the quarterfinal, they took down Guatemala, booking themselves a date with Mexico, and a chance to make another statement against a powerhouse.
All of this has been done without Antonio getting on the scoresheet. Gray leads the team with two goals, with the Everton man one of nine different players to find the back of the net during their four-game run.
"I don't mind who scores the goals and honestly, he doesn't as well," head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said. "I'm not worried about that. [Antonio] gives a lot of energy and opponents surround him so he opens space for others.
"When you have players that can score goals as we have — there are a lot of goals in our wingers, there's a goal in 'Whisper' [Dujuan Richards] when he comes in, Kaheem [Parris] scored, well it was an own goal, so we have a lot of goals in the wingers and we have Shamar [Nicholson], Cory [Burke], and Antonio as strikers, so there are a lot of goals in the Jamaica national team."
He continued: "When you have a quality player next to a quality player, it kind of helps both of them. It is nothing that we did as a coaching staff. It's just the simple things, don't complicate things when you have quality players like that. Their individual skills will take care of the details."
The match against Mexico will be tough, but it'll be one Jamaica will feel they can win, having proven they're capable even before this tournament of going toe-to-toe with the region's elite.