Caribbean Cup champions Mount Pleasant Football Academy are awaiting confirmation of their opponents for the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 in March, but sporting director Paul Christie says visa issues could severely weaken the team if they face LA Galaxy.

Mount Pleasant will make their debut in the regional knockout competition after winning the Concacaf Caribbean Cup in December, beating O&M of the Dominican Republic in the final. The victory earned the St Ann-based club a direct place in the Round of 16, bypassing the opening round.

Their opponents will be decided next month after a two-legged play-off between Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy and Panama’s Sporting San Miguelito on February 19 and 25.

If Galaxy advance, Mount Pleasant would travel to California for the first leg at Dignity Health Sports Park on March 10, 11, or 12. Christie said that scenario presents serious logistical problems, as several key players may be unable to secure United States visas in time.

“Our squad is made up of players from across the Caribbean and Concacaf — Trinidad, Haiti, and elsewhere — and there is no support to help with visas,” Christie told the Jamaica Observer.

“If we play LA Galaxy, we would go into the first leg weakened. About five Jamaican players don’t have US visas, and several Haitian players — who are critical to the team — also don’t have visas. We’ve been trying to address this, but there has been no assistance.”

Christie said the club has made several appointments at the US Embassy without success. While the United States has not restricted non-immigrant visas for Jamaicans, restrictions affecting Haiti would impact midfielders Daniel Saint-Fleur and Johnson Jeudy, as well as forwards Rafa Intervil, Clifford Thomas, and Angelo Exilus.

The situation has been compounded by tighter entry requirements for foreign nationals following the re-election of President Donald Trump in 2025.

Christie is calling for government intervention, arguing that Mount Pleasant’s participation carries national significance.

“This goes beyond Mount Pleasant or St Ann. It’s about representing Jamaica,” he said. “Whoever we put on the field represents the Jamaican brand, and this is a moment where government support matters.”

He acknowledged assistance from Sports Minister Olivia Grange but said broader leadership was needed to resolve the issue.

“No Jamaican team has ever gone beyond the Round of 16, so there’s history at stake. But if we can’t field our strongest team, we’re starting at a disadvantage. We want the chance to compete fairly and then live with the result.”

With roughly six weeks remaining before the tie, Christie said time was becoming a major concern.

“We’re running out of time. Some things are beyond our control, but these problems have existed since the draw. We need intervention now, not a week or two before the match when there may be no available appointment dates. The goal is to give Jamaican football the best chance to move forward.”

Mount Pleasant are the second Jamaican club in three years to qualify for the Champions Cup. Jamaica Premier League champions Cavalier FC previously faced FC Cincinnati in Ohio in 2024 and Inter Miami CF in Florida in 2025.

Raheem Edwards (left) of Mount Pleasant is challenged by O&M FC’s Jose Matos during the second leg of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final at the National Stadium on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Mount Pleasant Football Academy Sporting Director Paul Christie.