Latest News
McClaren wants Reggae Boyz to lift Jamaica’s spirit - Squad named for remaining WCQ matches
November 10, 2025
Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren is calling for a strong performance and World Cup qualification to lift the spirits of people on the island that was ravaged by Hurricane Melissa, which left a trail of death and destruction while flattening western parishes.
The coach made the call at a Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) press conference on Saturday, as he named his 26-man squad for Jamaica's two remaining games in the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers.
"We need to be able to feel what the people are feeling as well," McClaren said in a press conference on Saturday.
"If we can come together as one and get the feeling of the island and get the feeling of the people, because they're the most important.
"The people on this island, the families, the friends, and the Jamaicans all over the world, they will be so proud if we achieve this. So that's the mindset we've had from day one."
Jamaica will close out the final round of qualifiers with games against Trinidad and Tobago and Curacao as they battle for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A notable inclusion in McClaren's squad sees Brentford defender Rico Henry getting his first call-up to the national team.
Henry was previously named in Jamaica's watchlist ahead of the qualifiers.
Jamaica will face Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Thursday, November 13, before playing Curacao at the National Stadium in Kingston on Tuesday, November 18.
The teams are battling for automatic berth from Group Two, which goes to the team that wins the group. After four rounds, the Reggae Boyz lead with nine points, followed by Curacao, eight, Trinidad and Tobago, five, while Bermuda are yet to register a point, having lost all their matches.
McClaren said it will be important for the players to know they have the support of the Jamaican fans in their pursuit of a second ever World Cup appearance.
He said he would like to see the fans turn out at the National Stadium even before kick-off, so that the team can walk out to roaring applause.
This, he said, will be essential in creating a strong atmosphere at home.
"I can't stress the importance of the game is eight o'clock. We want to see the crowd there at six o'clock. We want to see that when we pull up on the coach," he explained.
"We want to see them when we walk on to the field, to look at the field. We need to see them when we're doing the warm-up. We need them to be behind the noise, the music, the smiles, the motivation," McClaren continued.
"We want to see the lights and the eyes of the people, to see how much it means to them, to know it means that much also, to the players who are performing to give to the people."
