Jamaica’s head coach Steve McClaren has vowed to “respect” hosts Bermuda and “treat the game right” when they meet in the Concacaf FIFA World Cup Qualifier at the national stadium in Hamilton, starting at 5:00 (Jamaica time) this afternoon.

The game is one of two in Zone B, as Trinidad and Tobago are set to host Curacao, also on Friday.

The injury-hit Reggae Boyz are trying to get back to the senior men’s World Cup for the first time since their inaugural qualification for the France 1998 showpiece.

McClaren said he is wary of what the Bermudans are capable of after the coaching staff watched video footage of them in action. “They have great spirit. I think before we think of anything about tactics, about how we’re going to score, strengths, weaknesses, how we’re going to defend, we have to respect Bermuda,” he said.

The winner of each of the three groups at this stage will earn direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup, joining hosts United States, Canada and Mexico. Another two teams from Concacaf could also advance, as the best two runners-up will feature in inter-continental play-offs in March 2026.

Optimism is high that Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will be able to book a spot for the ‘Big Show’ next year but they will go into the game against Bermuda without a number of regular starters due to injuries.

Regular captain and goalkeeper Andre Blake suffered a hamstring injury while representing his Major League Soccer team Philadelphia Union and winger Leon Bailey was injured during his first training session with new club AS Roma.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boy Kaheim Dixon trains at Sabina Park in Kingston.

Midfielder Joel Latibeaudiere, defender Di’Shon Bernard and striker Bobby DeCordova-Reid are others not on the squad list because of various ailments, while there are concerns over the fitness of Ethan Pinnock, Amari’i Bell and first-time invitee Ian Fray.

Pinnock, Bell and Demarai Gray were to have been assessed by the team’s medical personnel on Thursday, the
Jamaica Observer was also told.

Since naming his squad for the first two games last week, McClaren has added Jamoi Topey, Ronaldo Webster and goalkeeper Kemar Foster.

Regardless of the forced omissions and question marks, Jamaica will be defending a seven-game record against Bermuda who are ranked 162nd on the FIFA charts. Bermuda moved up six places since July after beating Cayman Islands 5-0 and Cuba 2-1 in the previous round of World Cup qualifying.

Jamaica were 2-0 winners the last time the teams met, in March 2020, with Jourdain Fletcher and Kemar Beckford scoring the goals.

However, McClaren insisted that the Jamaicans have to be careful going into the game.

“We need to match Bermuda’s spirit. If we do that, then we have a good chance of winning the game. If we don’t do that, Bermuda can be very dangerous. I don’t expect to win this game fairly comfortably,” he reiterated.

He pointed to results against common opponents that both Jamaica and Bermuda played against recently and gave them credit for their performances. They beat Cuba twice and led Honduras 2-0 at half-time before eventually losing and also competed gamely against Dominican Republic.

The Jamaican team, he said however, had been in tough games and is ready.

“We’ve experienced these games where we’re expected to win. And we have to be professional, do our job, make sure we match the spirit and make sure that we get the win. That’s what we came here for. It’s what we expect, and therefore we have to deliver.”

The Englishman conceded they are without some experienced players but was banking on others to step up.

“We brought in very good players. They are young players, they’re inexperienced players — this will be fantastic for them, but we’re not talking about experience. We’re talking about coming here and getting the job done and using the experienced players that we’ve got to make sure that we do the job and find a way to win.”

McClaren said his players have prepared well for the game.

“They’ve been great, to be fair, their attitudes — they’re young, they are enthusiastic, they listen, they want to learn and the training has been very good,” he said.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boy Richard King (left) chases the ball as head coach Steve McClaren looks on during team training at Sabina Park.

Jamaica’s goalkeeper Jahmali Waite practises at Sabina Park.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz train at Sabina Park in Kingston in September 2025. (Photos: JFF)