On Tuesday, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz have a chance to take full control of the Group B and move a step closer to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup but Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dwight Yorke says they plan to frustrate the Jamaicans and maintain a tight battle within the group.

The national senior men’s team registered a dominant 4-0 win away to Bermuda on Friday in the opening game of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifying final round. The victory puts Steve McClaren’s side in a favourable position as they sit top of the group with three points while Trinidad and Curacao are on a point each following their goalless result on Friday.

With only the group winner guaranteed a spot to next summer’s World Cup, victory for the Reggae Boyz against Trinidad on Tuesday at the National Stadium would push them to six points, giving them the edge with four games to go.

Aside from their rankings, Jamaica’s recent record against Trinidad makes them favourites as they’re unbeaten in their last four games including a 3-2 win at the Unity Cup in England, earlier this summer.

While viewed as underdogs, Yorke says the Reggae Boyz have more to worry about heading into the contest.

“We respect Jamaica but we don’t fear them and I don’t think that they are in a real healthy place themselves — despite their result — and they won’t be really looking forward to playing against us if we perform the way we can perform,” he said.

“The mindset for the game is good – over the last few months we had a lot of good games against Jamaica, and I think the difference between the two teams is very minute.”

Although disappointed with the draw against Curacao, Yorke says he was encouraged by what he saw and remains hopeful for the game against Jamaica.

“In the past, we probably could have lost, but I’ve got to make sure that the players stay positive, and that’s part of my job to do that, and the backroom staff and I will all do that, and we will be on hand to make sure that they dust themselves down and put the results behind them, and now it’s all concentration to try and get a good result against Jamaica,” he said.

Trinidad and Jamaica, the only two English-speaking Caribbean countries to qualify for the World Cup are both looking to end their respective droughts.

Former Manchester United forward Yorke, who was part of the team who successfully qualified for the 2006 tournament, knows the pressure his team faces but he believes his team can defy the odds this campaign.

“I think that they know they are going to be in for a very tough game, and to qualify for the World Cup, that’s how it should be. There is no easy part or easy road to qualifying for the World Cup, and [Curacao] is just another example of how the challenge ahead is, and we have to make sure that we are at our best at all times,” said Yorke.

“We have obviously the most difficult challenge of going into Jamaica, but we feel that we are in a good place, and it’s a long road ahead. We were never going to try and tell the public something else, but we know the challenge of qualifying was always going to be a bit challenging for us, and this is the first step towards it.”

Tuesday’s match, as well as the other group game between Curacao and Bermuda, is slated to start at 7:00 pm.

YORKE… I don’t think that they are in a real healthy place themselves — despite their result — and they won’t be really looking forward to playing against us

Sue-Lae McCalla (right) of Jamaica vies for the ball with Justin Garcia of Trinidad and Tobago during a friendly match at Anthony Spalding Sports Complex in St Andrew on February 9, 2025. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)