PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz were forced to settle for a tense 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) in their crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday night, a result that now makes Tuesday’s clash with Curaçao in Kingston a must-win affair.

The Boyz came into the match knowing that anything less than three points would leave them vulnerable in Group B, and their task became more urgent after Curaçao hammered Bermuda 7-0 to jump to 11 points. Jamaica’s draw puts them second on 10 points, meaning only a win at home will secure automatic qualification. T&T remain third on six points, with Bermuda bottom on none.

The fixture carried added weight for Jamaica beyond the standings. The team is seeking to reach the World Cup in the 100th year since playing their first international match, and with the country still recovering from Hurricane Melissa, a successful qualifying run has become a source of national uplift. For Steve McClaren, installed to steady and elevate the programme, this window has been framed as a major test.

T&T were buoyed by a deafening home crowd of horns, drums and constant chanting, and they struck the first warning blow in the 13th minute when captain Levi Garcia found room for a shot but dragged it wide. The game remained evenly balanced, but Trinidad’s confidence grew as they fed off their supporters’ energy.

Their first real surge came in the 25th minute, when Jamaica were stretched down their left side and Garcia burst clear of left back Greg Leigh. His low drive flashed narrowly across the face of goal, the closest either team had come. Jamaica had half-chances of their own but nothing to seriously trouble goalkeeper Denzil Smith up to that point.

The visitors suffered a setback in the 31st minute when Richard King limped off and was replaced by Damion Lowe, forcing a reorganisation of the back line.

Trinidad remained the more threatening, and in the 35th minute Tyrese Spicer popped up unmarked on Jamaica’s right, forcing Andre Blake into a sharp save from close range.

Jamaica thought they had snatched the lead in the 40th minute when Demarai Gray swung in a teasing cross and Jon Russell, Jamaica’s standout performer of the half, rose above the defence to head into the far corner. The celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, and VAR confirmed the decision moments later.

Trinidad came out aggressively once again after the break. Just seconds into the second half, in the 46th minute, a long ball sent Levi Garcia powering past Ethan Pinnock. He lifted a lob over the advancing Blake but watched it drop just over the bar.

Having survived that scare, Jamaica responded with their best move of the match. In the 53rd minute Renaldo Cephas sprinted onto a long diagonal pass down the left, darted inside on a weaving solo run, skipped between defenders and fired low past Smith at the far post. The strike gave Jamaica a 1-0 lead and briefly muted the once-raucous home supporters.

Trinidad pushed back immediately, with Spicer blasting over in the 60th minute. They came even closer in the 73rd minute when Kevin Molino curled in a teasing ball from deep and Justin Garcia’s header flew just wide.

Levi Garcia continued to torment Jamaica’s defence, and in the 76th minute he slalomed past Hayden and another defender before firing from the edge of the box, only for the shot to cannon off his own teammate.

Jamaica appeared to be seeing out the danger, but in the 85th minute they were punished for failing to clear a routine throw-in. The ball fell to Molino, who steadied himself and drove a low effort beyond Blake to level the score at 1-1.

The Boyz nearly rescued the win moments later when debutant Rico Henry combined neatly with Tyreece Campbell down the left in the 88th minute, but Henry’s low effort trickled tamely wide of the near post. It was the final chance of the night and a reminder of how fine the margins are at this stage of qualifying.

The draw means Jamaica’s World Cup hopes now depend entirely on Tuesday’s match against Curaçao at the National Stadium. A win sends them to the World Cup. Anything less, and the path becomes far more complicated in a year where the Boyz are desperate to return to the global stage and lift a nation still reeling from disaster.

Only the three final-round group winners are guaranteed qualification to the World Cup, while the best second-place team — a spot that Jamaica currently occupies — will enter a play-off for a chance to compete at the 2026 spectacle.

Jamaica’s goalscorer Renaldo Cephas (left) celebrates with teammate Shamar Nicholson after giving his team the lead in their 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago in their Concacaf World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday, November 13, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Dujuan Richards (left) takes on a defender during a 1-1 Concacaf World Cup qualifier draw between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Jamaican defender Damion Lowe (left) tries to keep away Trinidad and Tobago’s Wayne Frederick II during their Concacaf World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday, November 13, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

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