KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica could face Portugal, one of the favourites to win the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) senior men’s World Cup if they manage to survive next March’s Intercontinental play-offs in Mexico.

At Friday’s World Cup draw held in Washington, Jamaica’s pathway to the event would see them playing in Zone K of the biggest World Cup ever with 48 teams taking part.

Based on the draw, Jamaica would play against Colombia, Uzbekistan and Portugal in the first round.

After failing to gain an automatic spot from the Concacaf region, beaten out by Curacao, Jamaica will have a second chance via one of several play-offs.

Jamaica will face New Caledonia in their play-off group in Mexico during the March 2026 FIFA window with the winner of that single elimination facing the Democratic Republic of Congo for the right to go to the World Cup that will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Meanwhile, the other three Concacaf qualifiers, Haiti will play in Groyo C against Brazil, Morocco and Scotland; Curacao will play in Group E alongside Germany, Cote D’Ivoire and Ecuador while Panama will be in Group L where they will play England, Croatia and Ghana.

— Paul Reid