Football fans will readily recall how the Reggae Boyz — with the odds stacked against them — overturned a two-goal deficit in an inspired second-half performance to beat Canada 3-2 on a wet, cold night in Toronto late last year.

That triumph ensured that Jamaica’s national men’s team advanced to the semi-finals of the Concacaf Nations League, set for March, and earned them a spot in the top regional competition for South America, the prestigious Conmebol Copa America in mid-year.

For the record, the Jamaicans advanced on the away-goal rule, with the two-way tie at four goals each — the first leg in Kingston having ended in a 2-1 victory for visiting Canada.

It’s for good reason then that there is plentiful confidence that Jamaica is well placed to achieve a goal that has remained elusive since 1998 — a place among teams in the FIFA senior men’s World Cup finals tournament, the next edition of which is set for 2026 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

That confidence was boosted Thursday when Jamaica gained what is considered a very favourable draw for preliminary round Concacaf qualifiers for the next World Cup.

For those who have not paid close attention, Thursday’s draw indicated Jamaica will face Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Dominica, and the winner of a play-off between the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands. The preliminary qualifying round will begin in June and extend to next year as part of what will be a crowded international schedule for Jamaica and Concacaf.

Thirty Concacaf teams split into six groups will compete in this round of qualifiers. It will exclude USA, Canada, and Mexico — already at the FIFA World Cup 2026 by virtue of being hosts.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the final round of Concacaf qualifiers, scheduled between September and November 2025.

After that final round, three Concacaf teams will qualify directly for World Cup 2026. Two others will have the chance to also make it, depending on the results of play-offs with teams from other confederations.

It means that potentially an unprecedented eight Concacaf nations, including the three hosts, could be represented at the 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026.

That’s the backdrop which has triggered so much confidence that two years from now, after 28 years on the outside, Jamaica’s men could again be on football’s global stage.

But as we all know from everyday life, complacency is a dangerous travelling companion.

Hence the warning from Assistant Coach Mr Merron Gordon that every team is a threat and should be treated as such, given the phenomenal growth of football and playing standards in all corners of the planet.

Said Mr Gordon: “We are going to have to fight for our spot… Where world football is at today, there are no walkovers; we cannot take anything for granted…”

“The opportunity to go to the World Cup will get the best out of everyone, and our first game in June will be critical. We need to win our first game, start positively, and build on that…”

All stakeholders in Jamaica’s football should keep Mr Gordon’s cautionary comments front and centre as we step forward.