DESPITE being wary of the threat Trinidad and Tobago pose, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren is confident his team has more quality to get the job done in their Concacaf World Cup Qualifying final-round group game today at the National Stadium, starting at 7:00 pm.

The national senior men’s team will be looking to move a step closer to qualifying for next summer’s FIFA World Cup with victory over the Trinidadians — which would move them to six points in Group B.

The Jamaicans are coming off a commanding 4-0 win over Bermuda, while Trinidad were held to a goalless result by Curacao.

McClaren is also looking to improve his home record after going winless in three of the team’s five competitive home games.

He says the energy of the local fans will play a major role in the Boyz’s performance.

“I think winning your home games are always important. I think against Bermuda, everybody expected us to win — a difficult game, always, but we were professional and got the job done. Now it’s a home game, so you’ve got to win your home games,” reasoned McClaren.

“We have to go tomorrow — like we did against Guatemala in the World Cup qualifiers [in June] — to get into this group. The supporters that evening were absolutely terrific, and we need that again tomorrow. No doubt they can’t just turn up, they’ve got to give us energy. I think that’s always the key thing with this Jamaica team, when it’s got energy and attitude we perform well.”

McClaren has had the benefit of playing Trinidad three times this year, going unbeaten and registering two wins, including their 3-2 win in the Unity Cup in England.

On Friday, Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dwight Yorke said Jamaica “won’t be really looking forward to playing against” the twin island nation at this time.

While noting his opponents’ improvement under Yorke, McClaren is urging his players to prove their worth.

“We had a local camp, and it was the first time that we’d seen Trinidad, and Dwight Yorke had just taken over, and I knew they had ability and quality. Then we played them in the Unity Cup, and you could see the difference and the improvement. Then I watched them in the Gold Cup, and you could see the improvement also,” he said.

“So for me, they’re improving. They have, like us, they have speed, athleticism; they’re strong and fast. They’ve got good players, good individual players that can win football matches. I think that’s what it’s about tomorrow — the important players, they’re the ones who must deliver. Whoever delivers will win the game.”

Goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, who will deputise once more in the absence of Captain Andre Blake, went unbeaten in the two games he played against Trinidad this year, and he wants that trend to continue.

“We’ve played them a lot over the past year. We watched their last game; we’ve seen the clips of how dangerous they are and how explosive they can be. We expect a good game, we expect it to be tough, but once we prepare in training and off the field we’ll go out there and execute.”

There are no new injuries to the squad that travelled to Bermuda, and McClaren confirmed that Mount Pleasant FA striker Warner Brown will be a match-time decision after struggling with an injury since he joined the camp last Monday.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Shaquan Davis, Jahmali Waite, Tafari Chambers

Defenders: Damion Lowe, Richard King, Kyle Duncan, Dexter Lembikisa, Greg Leigh, Mason Holgate, Jamoi Topey

Midfielders: Isaac Hayden, Jon Russell, Kasey Palmer, Karoy Anderson, Kevon Lambert, Jahshaun Anglin

Forwards: Michail Antonio, Kaheim Dixon, Renaldo Cephas, Warner Brown, Tyreece Campbell, Bailey Cadamarteri, Shamar Nicholson, Ronaldo Barrett

Midfielder Karoy Anderson (left) holds off defender Kyle Duncan during Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz training on Sunday, September 7, 2025, ahead of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago. (Photo: JFF)

MCCLAREN… it’s a home game, so you’ve got to win your home games (Photo: JFF)

Jamaica’s Reggae Boy Kaheim Dixon (Photo: JFF)

Dwight Yorke, Trinidad and Tobago head coach

Striker Shamar Nicholson kicks the ball during Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz training on Sunday ahead of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago. (Photo: JFF)