Jamaica senior’s Reggae Girlz are set to face off against Mexico in the first of two international friendlies at the CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, United States, this afternoon starting at 4:30 (Jamaica time).

In their last five matches against the Mexicans, the Reggae Girlz have only won once while losing four times.

Assistant Coach Deon Burton said the team is excited about the matchup, noting that Mexico is a top 30 team in the world, providing a great opportunity for the Reggae Girlz to test their skills.

“It is going to be exciting. Mexico is a top 30 team in the world and so it’s great that we get the opportunity to put our wits against a team of this calibre.”

Burton emphasised the importance of utilising every camp before the World Cup Qualifiers begin late this year, allowing the team to plan, prepare, and work on areas that need improvement. He also highlighted the value of getting new players integrated into the team and understanding what’s expected of them.

“Not only [are] these two games, it’s really important that we utilise every camp that we have leading up to the qualification so it gives us time to plan, prep, and just work on lots of areas that we need to and we know that are going to be needed when we come around to qualification time playing these games in October,” he said.

The team has been working hard to prepare for the friendly, with Burton noting that: “The more grass time we can get with the girls is a must and it’s really important to just tick off loads of areas that we’re having players change all quite a lot of the time but it’s good to get the new girls in and letting them understand what’s expected from [them].”

With everyone “raring to go” for the first match, this friendly is shaping up to be an exciting encounter.

The Reggae Girlz will be looking to make a strong statement against a formidable opponent, and with two matches scheduled, they should have ample opportunity to fine-tune their strategies.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is next set to be held in 2027.

— Ruddy Allen