As we look to qualify for FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026
Those with long memories of regional football recall a group of Dutch-controlled and -administered Caribbean islands known as The Netherlands Antilles, also called the Dutch Antilles.
Decades ago, The Netherlands Antilles were no walkovers in regional football. In the 1965 World Cup Qualifiers, for instance, they were defeated 0-2 at the National Stadium in Kingston, but in 1966 and 1969 they turned the tables on the Jamaicans in regional competition.
For those who have not made the link, Curaçao, located off the coastline of Venezuela — one of the so-called ABC islands — was part of The Netherlands Antilles until dissolution 15 years ago.
Still closely tied in every respect to The Netherlands (Holland), Curaçao, 2-0 winners over Jamaica in World Cup qualifying on Friday night, is steeped in Dutch football which, as followers of the sport are aware, exemplifies touch technique, and attack as a first option.
Though Curaçao, guided by Mr Dick Advocaat — the highly respected 78-year-old former Dutch national coach — did not advance from the first round of the Concacaf Gold Cup in mid-year, observers couldn’t miss their poise and control. Those were elements sadly missing for the Reggae Boyz at that tournament.
And for those who may feel that Curaçao, with a population of 156,000 shouldn’t pose a football threat to Jamaica, it’s useful to note that in 2016 Iceland, with 329,000 people, knocked England out of the European Championship.
In 2018 Iceland qualified for the 32-team FIFA World Cup in Russia — which is one reason Icelander Mr Heimir Halgrimsson, current head coach for the Republic of Ireland, was employed by the Jamaica Football Federation in 2022.
And, Faroe Islands, a remote archipelago close to the Arctic Circle, with a population of 55,000, ranked 136th in world football, beat Czech Republic 2-1 on Sunday to remain in World Cup contention.
All of the above is to underline our position that Friday night’s result was always on the cards. It should not be considered a major upset.
We note Jamaica’s Head Coach Mr Steve McClaren’s post-game comment: “People said to me, ‘[If] you win tonight [Friday], you’re one foot in.’ Football is never like that. Never. I didn’t expect that, and I said [so] all the way along…”
That comment came against the backdrop of a misplaced view: That maximum points for the Reggae Boyz in their first two games against Bermuda away, and Trinidad and Tobago at home, had given them a foot through the door for next year’s FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
From a Jamaican perspective, it’s useful to note that, while the Reggae Boyz did not play good football — yielding midfield too easily to their hosts — they could have won Friday night’s game based on clear goalscoring chances.
But that’s water under the bridge. Right now, our national players and coaching staff must recognise that their destiny remains in their hands.
They must focus on putting away Bermuda in Kingston on Tuesday night — having easily overcome that opposition in Hamilton in September.
Further, they must look to beat Trinidad and Tobago away, and Curaçao at home in the November window of qualifiers.
It’s as simple as that, as we look to qualify automatically for a senior men’s FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998.
