Despair, desolation, and disappointment — that’s what was felt inside the National Stadium on Tuesday night as the Reggae Boyz failed to automatically qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup.

Their goalless draw with Curaçao meant the visitors booked their ticket for the first time, while the Jamaicans will now be forced into March’s inter-confederation playoffs.

Not even the 35,000 fans who filled the stadium to capacity could push the national team to getting the win they so desperately needed.

Luck favoured the World Cup-bound Curaçao who survived three efforts that hit the woodwork and saw a stoppage time penalty overturned.

Jon Russell’s red card in the 90th minute and frustrations boiling over for Richard King summed up a miserable night for the Reggae Boyz, with Head Coach Steve McClaren announcing his resignation at the post-match news conference.

It’s a dramatic fall for the team who were seen as heavy favourites after being drawn with Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda.

Their draw against Trinidad proved costly as they lost leadership of the group, giving Curaçao the comfort of playing for the point they needed.

Jamaica will now await their opponent for the inter-confederation playoffs, where they could meet either Iraq, DR Congo, Bolivia, or New Macedonia.

Curaçao Captain Leandro Bacuna had the first shot on target in the 16th minute, but his free kick was comfortably saved by Jamaica’s Captain Andre Blake.

That would spark some life into the Boyz as, three minutes later, Bobby Reid and Shamar Nicholson both had good opportunities but were unable to find the back of the net.

Jurgen Locadia tested the Jamaican goal with a shot from the edge of the box in the 22nd minute, but Blake made his second save of the night.

Tensions increased as fans became unsettled after seeing their team fail to make any inroads for the remainder of the first half.

The second started half slowly, but in the 54th minute, a long throw from Ethan Pinnock found Greg Leigh at the far post; however, his header hit the woodwork.

Nicholson also found the woodwork in the 70th minute as the breakthrough failed to come.

The stadium breathed a sigh of relief when Curaçao forward Jeremy Atonisse’s well-taken finish was ruled out for offside.

The Boyz felt they had a chance to win it when Dujuan “Whisper” Richards won a penalty with minutes left on the clock. However, it was ruled out by VAR after it was deemed the defender won the ball.

“Football is a results business, and tonight we’ve fallen short of our goal, which was to qualify for this World Cup,” McClaren told journalists at the post-match news conference.

He said it is the responsibility of the leader to step forward, take accountability and make decisions in the best interest of the team for them to go forward.

“After deep reflection and an honest assessment of where we are and where we need to go, I’ve decided to step down as the head coach of the Jamaican national team,” McClaren said, adding that the decision was made out of respect for the the badge, the supporters and the players.

Team: Andre Blake, Dexter Lembikisa, Richard King, Ethan Pinnock, Greg Leigh, Isaac Hayden, Ian Fray, Bobby Reid, Demarai Gray, Shamar Nicholson, Renaldo Cephas.

Subbed on: Kaheim Dixon, Jon Russell, Bailey Cadamarteri, Dujuan Richards

Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren looks on during Tuesday night’s final-round World Cup qualifier against Curacao at the National Stadium in St Andrew. McClaren announced his resignation after the game ended in a goalless draw, throwing the Jamaicans out of automatic qualification for next year’s tournament.

Jamaica’s Shamar Nicholson (right) tries to get by his opponents during the Reggae Boyz’s final round FIFA World Cup qualifier against Curaçao at the National Stadium in St Andrew Tuesday night. The game ended 0-0. Photos: Garfield Robinson

Dejection on the Jamaican bench at the end of Tuesday’s final round FIFA World Cup qualifier against Curaçao at the National Stadium in St Andrew.

A Curaçaoan fan celebrates with members of his national team after they played to a 0-0 draw against Jamaica at the National Stadium in St Andrew Tuesday night to earn their first-ever berth to the FIFA World Cup.

The joy of qualifying for the World Cup is demonstrated by this Curaçaoan fan inside Jamaica’s National Stadium in St Andrew Tuesday night.