No Jamaican men’s team has been to a World Cup in almost two decades. That will finally change this year as the young Reggae Boyz secured a historic qualification to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.

The unbeaten Jamaican starlets ended their Concacaf Under-17 qualifiers in style with an impressive 3-1 win over pre-tournament favourites Canada in Costa Rica on Wednesday to finish top of Group G with nine points.

They only needed to avoid defeat to book their spot at the World Cup, but Jahmarie Nolan in the 37th, Jamone Lyle in the 53rd, and Jaheem Bennett in the 92nd minute gave the Jamaicans a huge victory over the Canadians, who got a consolation from Van Parker midway the second half.

It’s the third time in Jamaica’s history that they’ve qualified for the Under-17 World Cup, with the last appearance coming in 2011. The Young Reggae Boyz will get to play in the revamped tournament for the first time in November, having narrowly missed out last year.

An overjoyed Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer that their qualification was years in the making.

“We have invested heavily in our youth programmes over the last few years,” he said. “Our TDS [Talent Development Scheme] programme, our Under-14 boys would have won the CFU Boys Challenge Cup then last year again at the CONCACAF level the boys won that competition under [Andrew] Peart again. So it’s [been] a work in progress, and the investment is paying off and we are just absolutely delighted.”

“I must use this opportunity to congratulate my technical staff, who have worked so hard, tirelessly, to keep things on track and to ensure that we stay focused. I’m just proud of the boys. They have really, really worked hard. I watched the game, I was so nervous sometimes, but they kept their nerve and the result is that we have qualified.”

After missing out on qualification in 2025, the JFF named veteran local Coach Wendel Downswell as head coach to add further experience to the technical staff, which featured Vassell Reynolds, Altimont Butler, and Carlton Simmonds.

Having steered the Under-17 side to the 2011 World Cup and the Under-20s to the 2001 edition, Downswell has secured yet another feather in his cap.

“He would have brought years of experience. He knows how to qualify U-17 teams so he was a great addition to a staff that had worked so very well from day one,” Ricketts said. “Congratulations are indeed in order and we are just supremely happy and confident going forward.”

Ricketts says the young Reggae Boyz’s qualification should lift the mood of the nation still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

“It is so important and it’s critical that it happens at this time. I was hoping desperately that our senior men’s team would have done this for Jamaica and for so many displaced Jamaicans, but we are now giving them something to smile about, something that can lift their spirit. We have done this for Jamaica,” he said.

“I must reiterate that our technical staff, our management staff, our administrators, to all the directors, to all the parish presidents, who in their own way would have contributed to the success of this programme.”

The team, who arrive in the island tonight, will know their opponents for the Qatar World Cup, scheduled for November, in May when the official draw takes place.

Jamaican winger Jamone Lyle (centre) dribbles away from Canada’s Eloi Breton (right) and Ulrich Zamble during the Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers encounter between Jamaica and Canada in Costa Rica on February 11, 2026. Lyle got on the scoresheet in Jamaica’s 3-1 victory which booked the island’s place at the 2026 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. (Photo: JFF Media)

Jamaica’s Raheem Kelly (centre) moves away from Canada’s Niko Wood during the Concacaf Under-17 Qualifier in Costa Rica on February 11, 2026. Jamaica won 3-1 and qualified to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup set for Qatar in November. (Photo: JFF Media)