The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is enjoying a purple patch with a number of youth teams achieving success in their respective tournaments and General Secretary Gregory Daley believes they are reaping the rewards of well-organised planning and execution.

The Under-17 Reggae Boyz qualified for the 2026 World Cup and the Under-20 Boyz have advanced to the Concacaf Championship, where they will also look to book their World Cup spot along with the Under-17 and Under-20 Girlz.

“We are seeing a rising tide across all youth units, from Under-15, Under-14, Under-17, Under-20, and the reality is while these performances are unprecedented and welcoming, they bring the reality of increased responsibilities,” Daley told the Jamaica Observer.

“Supporting multiple high-performing units simultaneously requires significant resources and we are working tirelessly to ensure that our financial backing matches the ambition of our players,” said Daley.

Jamaica’s Under-20 defeated Puerto Rico 1-0 on Tuesday and topped Group B with a maximum 15 points, winning all five games, scoring 28 times while not conceding a goal.

They brushed aside Bonaire (3-0), Turks and Caicos (7-0), Cayman Islands (9-0), and St Kitts and Nevis (8-0) before their group decider against Puerto Rico.

“Let me just say, it leaves you speechless based on the performances. We are happy to see that what we have planned is now coming to fruition and I can tell you that [JFF] President [Michael] Ricketts and the entire board, the JFF staff, we’re all proud to see that this is really coming to the forefront now,” said Daley.

Jamaica’s Under-20 now qualifies for the 2026 Concacaf Championship set to run from July 25 to August 9. The top four teams from that tournament will advance to the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Uzbekistan.

They are also in the running to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games and with the highest finishing Caribbean team making the 2027 Pan American Games, Jamaca are very much in the thick of things.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Under-17 Reggae Girlz are at the Concacaf Championship round, where they are paired with Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama, with action set to resume later this month as they hunt a historic FIFA World Cup berth.

“The JFF remains committed to ensuring that these young men and women have every tool necessary to transition from youth stars to senior Reggae Boyz and Reggae Girlz.

“The current performance of the Under 20 boys in the Concacaf qualifiers has been nothing short of spectacular, believe me. The recent form just highlight, we saw 28 goals scored and zero conceded across all their matches and it’s a testament to the talent and the discipline within these groups. This is not an isolated success, let me really say that.

“The future is not just coming, it is already here and that is a reality that we all need to accept. And always, we are asking for the full support of not only our supporters on the ground at the games, but also corporate to come on-board and help to support the upward movement of the Reggae Boyz and Reggae Girlz,” Daley pleaded.

DALEY… we are happy to see that what we have planned is now coming to fruition (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Head coach of the national Under-20 team Rudolph Austin (Photo: Paul Reid)

Jamaica Under-20 player Orel Miller (left) looks to get the best of St Kitts and Nevis player Erick Riviere during a Concacaf Under-20 Championships Group B match at Stadion Rignaal “Jean” Francisca in Willemstad, Curacao, on March 1, 2026. Jamaica won 8-0. (Photo: JFF)