REFLECTING on the euphoria of Jamaica’s historic qualification to the 2019 World Cup, coupled with a fairly tidy display throughout the first phase of qualifying and the return of Lorne Donaldson to the senior women’s programme, it has all been building to this Concacaf Women’s Championship where unprecedented challenges await.

For the senior Reggae Girlz, this tournament promises dreamland or disaster, and today’s Group A clash against host nation Mexico is just the anxious beginning.

Victory over the 26th-ranked Mexicans would place the 51st-ranked Jamaicans in a handy position to secure a second-consecutive Fifa Women’s World Cup appearance, in Australia and New Zealand next year, while defeat would deal a blow to that dream.

A stalemate would be a fair result, especially with both teams having to face group favourites United States.

But only time will tell what is in store for the Reggae Girlz when the ball gets rolling in the crucial opening Group A contest at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey at 9:00 pm.

Prior to that, world champions United States will tackle 60th-ranked Haiti at 6:00 pm.

To say that football enthusiasts at home and abroad are waiting to see the Reggae Girlz against “El Tricolor” would be an understatement, as many are aware that this is the encounter that can make or break their World Cup hopes.

They have faced each other three times before in the Concacaf Women’s Championship, with Mexico prevailing in all three meetings, scoring a combined nine goals and conceding two.

However, the Jamaicans are mindful that their last meeting with Mexico at the 2020 Olympic qualifiers ended in a narrow 0-1 loss — and the quality of that squad is nothing compared to the firepower they now possess with the addition of the English-based players.

Donaldson is also aware of that fact and, while he is by no means grandstanding against the Mexicans and their home court advantage — especially with their hunger and desire to overturn their failure at the 2018 tournament — he believes his Girlz can get the job done.

“Mexican organisation is quality and their preparation has been good. They have changed a lot of stuff in the last four years because they didn’t qualify for the last one [World Cup], so playing and being at home is a big advantage for them.

“Tomorrow [Monday] is going to be one of those games where we have the support against us and the stadium is going to be packed, but we have to come out in a positive manner and try to match the Mexican energy because I am sure they are going to come out with a lot of energy and come at us,” Donaldson said during a virtual press conference on Sunday.

“So, we have to come in and try to figure out how we are going to swing the advantage our way — which is going to be a big task — but I think I like the chances of my players to do that and we are positive about what we can do. I think if any group can do it, it’s this one,” he opined.

While their preparation for the tournament was void of a proper practice game, Donaldson, who was involved in the team’s historic World Cup appearance in France 2019, pointed out that they accomplished all they could in a two-week camp at altitude in Denver, Colorado.

The Girlz also had a second four-day camp in Mexico where Donaldson believes there was improvement in the team’s fitness.

“We have been in Colorado preparing; it’s been a good time with the Girlz. Some of them came in late but we did have a good little stretch of preparation coming into this tournament, so we’ll see.

“We’ve had improvements in the fitness area but we haven’t played a serious game, and sometimes you can’t judge that [fitness level]. But we had a few scrimmage [games] which helped us and I think we are fit enough to actually do the job,” Donaldson noted.

Mexico, making their 10th appearance at this tournament, will be banking on the likes of Katty Martinez, Alicia Cervantes, game-changer Stephany Mayor, and on the rise player, Maria Sanchez.

The Jamaicans, making their seventh appearance, possess the likes of game-changer and top scorer Khadija Shaw, Trudi Carter, and emerging young star Jody Brown, with the likes of former Liverpool stalwart Jade Bailey and Drew Spence — who recently bid Chelsea goodbye after a decade — expected to add life to midfield.

Tottenham’s Rebecca Spencer could start in goal, shadowed by the Swaby sisters Chantelle and Allyson, with the returning Deneisha Blackwood to their left and possibly Tiernny Wiltshire on the right.

Chinyelu Asher could also keep her place in the middle of the park.

“Obviously, this game is very important. Any tournament you go into the first game, a lot of times, tends to be the most important. But, we have to play three games so it’s not a do-or-die game per se, but obviously we would like a positive result in this game and it’s going to be important that we go after it,” Donaldson emphasised, reluctant to give away his hand.

“I won’t discuss the strategy; I know what they are going to do. Both Mexican men’s and women’s teams play a similar style and I know they are going to be energetic and come after us early. But, we are going to try to match it,” the tactician stated.

The top two teams from each group will qualify directly to the World Cup while the third-place teams will qualify for the intercontinental play-offs.

In addition, the group winners will qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2024 Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup while the second and third-place teams will advance to the Concacaf Olympic play-offs.

Jamaica squad — Sydney Schneider, Chantelle Swaby, Jade Bailey, Vyan Sampson, Havana Solaun, Chinyelu Asher, Kayla McCoy, Atlanta Primus, Khadija Shaw, Sashana Campbell, Rebecca Spencer, Deneisha Blackwood, Allyson Swaby, Tiernny Wiltshire, Drew Spence, Satara Murray, Yazmeen Jamieson, Trudi Carter, Jody Brown, Mireya Grey, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Kalyssa Van Zanten, Jayda Hylton-Pelaia.