When Steve McClaren was appointed head coach of the national senior men’s team in August 2024, his main objective was to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a few hours, it will be known whether the Brit has managed to meet the objective.

The Reggae Boyz head into the last game of Concacaf World Cup qualifying against Curacao at the National Stadium at 8:00 pm, knowing only a win will automatically secure their spot at next year’s tournament. Following last Thursday’s results, Jamaica sit second in Group B on 10 points, while unbeaten Curacao lead with 11.

Since their historic qualification to the 1998 World Cup in France, Jamaica have had six consecutive failed bids. McClaren, however, believes he’s the right man to end the drought.

“This is why I took the job in the first place and left Manchester United to come here,” he said. “I knew Jamaica from my work with FIFA. I knew the potential and I knew that this was a great opportunity this year to qualify for the World Cup so from day one, that’s been the focus.”

It’s been an indifferent 16 months for the Englishman, who has 11 wins in his 22 matches. While he is on the verge of World Cup qualification, crashing out of the group stage of last summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup as well as consecutive defeats to the USA in the Concacaf Nations League left many questioning his ability to lead the national team.

McClaren, who previously managed England, has achieved success in club football across England and the Netherlands, including title wins with Middlesbrough and FC Twente.

Despite his over 20 years at the highest level, McClaren says the Jamaica role has been an eye-opening one.

“The experience of CONCACAF football has been unique for me and I’ve had to learn lessons very quickly about CONCACAF football because Caribbean football is different to Central American football and North American football,” he said.

“We’ve had different types of football in CONCACAF, which I’ve not experienced before so that has been a fantastic experience and development for me. But the goal has been working with these players, working with the federation, trying to get everybody together. Along the way there’ll be ups and downs, there’ll be decisions, there’ll be good, there’ll be bad, there’ll be ones that don’t work — what it’s all worked towards is this one night.”

However, the North Yorkshire-born McClaren feels like a part of the island, which is motivating him to complete his mission.

“The 16 months I’ve had here and knowing the Jamaican people it’s been a fantastic experience for me personally. The goal has always been World Cup qualification but since coming on the island, the people I love like [Kaheim] who’s sat next to me now, he epitomises Jamaica and this is why I’m here because every day you wake up and you see this and it energises you. The enthusiasm of the players, whether they’re local players from the UK or from abroad, the buzz, the energy, the excitement has been brilliant.”

Brazilian Rene Simoes is the only man to have taken the Reggae Boyz to the World Cup. Since then, both Jamaican-born and overseas coaches have failed to crack the code.

McClaren is arguably under the most pressure to deliver given the relatively comfortable group draw with featured Caribbean countries all below Jamaica in the rankings.

His job may be at risk but he’s confident that he can be part of what would be a historic night for the country.

“I’m excited by it, I’m a little nervous, I’d be very worried if I wasn’t and the anticipation and the unpredictability of it,” he said. “Because we prepare and we prepare very well, and we never prepare in a complacent way. We’re always focused, we’re always chilled. Jamaicans enjoy it so we make them enjoy it but we know on game day that focus has to be there and that’s what we aim for.

While it will be left up to the players on the stadium pitch night, McClaren is calling on the people of his second home to carry the team over the line.

“Come here at eight o’clock, be on time, sing the national anthem. Everywhere else we go, every country, the crowd, the fans, we can hear the national anthem. We want that from our players, our staff, our supporters tomorrow (today). Every advantage that you can think of playing at home, we have to take advantage of that. If we do that, we’re a force to be reckoned with,” he said.

“Sticking together for 95 minutes will be key. Whatever happens, someone mentioned it, we may concede a goal early, we may go up, we may draw, we may be losing but how many games have we won in the last 10 minutes? Because we stayed in games. We need all of that tomorrow. God willing, everything drops our way and we win the game.”

Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren (left) makes a point during a press conference ahead of the Jamaica vs Curacao World Cup qualifer at the National Stadium on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Looking on is national striker Kaheim Dixon. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Joseph wellington