DESPITE being released by West Ham United recently, striker Michail Antonio says he has no intentions of retiring and is aiming to help the Reggae Boyz qualify for the FIFA World Cup which takes place next summer.

Antonio, now a free agent, resumed playing for Jamaica this summer during the Concacaf Gold Cup, after recovering from a car crash in December. He is likely to be called up for Steve McClaren’s squad against Bermuda, and Trinidad and Tobago next month in the final round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying matches.

The Reggae Boyz need to top the group, which also consists of Curacao, in order to automatically advance to the 2026 showpiece in USA, Mexico, and Canada.

The 35-year-old, who made his international debut in 2021, says he’s extremely motivated to end the island’s near three-decade World Cup drought.

“It was one of the first things I wanted to do for Jamaica,” he tells Hayters TV. “The last time they were in the World Cup was 1998 so to be able to get Jamaica into the World Cup again would be amazing. We’re now six games away from being qualified — and the six games are very doable for us.”

Antonio, who has five goals in 24 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, is also hoping to join Theodore Whitmore and Robbie Earle as Jamaica’s only goalscorers at the World Cup.

“It would be a dream,” he says. “I was the very first player to score in the Copa America for Jamaica not long ago so I, hopefully, can manage to get one for Jamaica in the World Cup.”

Antonio is now looking for a new club after failing to agree to a new contract with West Ham, who announced his departure last week.

He played over 320 games for the club in his 10-year stint and became their leading goalscorer in the English Premier League with 68 goals. He also won the UEFA Conference League title in 2023, ending the club’s 43-year trophy drought.

Though seeing his time at the club come to an end, Antonio is optimistic he’ll be with a new club for the 2025-26 season.

“The future for me is obviously still playing,” he says. “I’ve always said that I want to keep going and keep pushing myself.

“I’ve got a lot left in me and, obviously, now I’ve got more to prove to come back from where I have and how quickly I’ve done it. I’m kind of pushing myself to go again. I’m speaking to some clubs right now so you’ll be seeing me again.”

After the surgery on his broken leg sustained during the crash it was suggested that Antonio would be ruled out of action for at least a year.

However, he made his return in June, making substitute appearances against Guatemala, Guadeloupe, and Panama.

Antonio says he’s made significant headway in his recovery and is fully prepared to return to club football, whether in England or overseas.

“It was [to be] a 12-month rehab but I’ve managed to do it in five and a half months, managed to play for Jamaica in the summer, managed to score two goals for West Ham under-21s, so it shows I can still get my goals,” he tells
talkSPORT.

“But it has been difficult mentally. I obviously had to go into therapy to try and build up myself back through it but I’m very good now. I’m very happy, very content in where I am, and I’m just going to wait for my football club to come in to show everybody that I’m not just good in my mind and physically, but also on the pitch.”

Michail Antonio during training in California, United States, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (Photo: JFF Media)

Michail Antonio (left) of Jamaica takes on Piero Hincapie of Ecuador during the CONMEBOL Copa America Group B match at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, United States, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Photo: AFP)

Michail Antonio’s 10-year stint with West Ham has come to an end after the club announced they wouldn’t be renewing his contract. He leaves as their record league goalscorer with 68 goals.