Ricketts excited as Reggae Girlz set to play USA and England in June
Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz will face world number one United States and European champion and fourth-ranked England in two international friendlies on June 3 and 29 respectively.
Jamaica will travel to St Louis, Missouri to face the top ranked team in the world before trekking to Leicester’s King Power Stadium to play an England team that was second at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), welcomes the challenges and is excited that the Reggae Girlz, ranked 40th in the world, get the chance to pit their skills against these top-ranked countries.
While Jamaica has played Concacaf counterparts the USA a number of times, it will be the first time facing England.
“I mean, we’re just very, very excited to be getting on the field of play with probably one of the best teams in the world,” Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer.
“So, part of the preparation process, leading up to the World Cup in 2027, so we are looking around for some really strong teams,” Ricketts pointed out.
“We will also engage The US in Saint Louis in June as well. So, we’re trying to get, the preparation process going and we really want to see where we are at as it relates to our preparation for the World Cup,” he added.
The Reggae Girlz are in preparation mode for their Concacaf World Cup qualifiers while England are fine-tuning their preparations to defend their European title in the summer.
Head Coach of the Reggae Girlz, Hubert Busby, also reacted to the announcement.
“We look forward to this match against England at the end of June. I know our passionate diaspora in the Midlands and throughout the UK will be excited to support our team in person. This match serves as another crucial test heading into qualifiers later in the year,” said Busby.
England’s coach Sarina Wiegman is looking forward to taking on the Reggae Girlz.
“I am really pleased to be able to play a good game to finalise our Euros preparations on English soil,” said Wiegman.
“Jamaica will be a difficult test, they’re a nation we haven’t faced before and a real opportunity for us to keep learning and growing as a team,” she added.
“They are building as a team themselves and have been doing really well, especially at the last World Cup. It will be a special occasion and atmosphere in a great stadium which we have performed well at in the past,” said Wiegman.
H.W.
