When the Reggae Boyz squad for the FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs is revealed today, there will be some notable absences. However, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts says he trusts interim head coach Rudolph Speid’s decision making as they make their final push to qualify for this summer’s tournament.

Speid will name his 26-man squad, for the tournament in Mexico against New Caledonia and potentially DR Congo, at the JFF headquarters in New Kingston at 11:00 am.

As reported by the Jamaica Observer on Monday, forwards Shamar Nicholson, Dujuan Richards and Kaheim Dixon will all be excluded from the list along with Dexter Lembikisa, Jon Russell, and Michail Antonio while Coventry City’s Ephron Mason-Clarke, Sheffield United’s Andre Brooks, and Tottenham prospect Tyrese Hall will get their first call-ups.

The Observer has since learnt that defender Mason Holgate, striker Rumarn Burrell, and left backs Rico Henry and Greg Leigh will also be left out despite being part of the last year’s final-round Concacaf World Cup Qualifying campaign.

It’s understood that Mount Pleasant Football Academy duo Warner Brown and Jahshaun Anglin, who became regular call ups under former head coach Steve McClaren, will not make the trip to Guadalajara.

It’s believed that the players not selected don’t meet Speid’s selection criteria, outlined in January, which speaks to form and appearances for their respective clubs.

There have already been mixed views from the public regarding the exclusion of the players, particularly around Nicholson, Richards and Dixon. However, Ricketts says Speid is doing what’s best for the national team.

“I have to support him in this regard,” Ricketts told the Observer. “It’s not my responsibility to instruct the coach who to select and who not to select so I just have to work with him and accept decisions that he would have made.

“I know for sure that some popular names will be missing and it’s simply because they are not playing at their respective clubs. I can appreciate and understand his thought process that he wants players that are currently playing to be part of this squad heading down to Guadalajara.”

The Observer understands that Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, who missed all six games of the final round of qualifying last year, will be named in the 26.

It’s also understood that wingers Norman Campbell and Jamal Lowe, who haven’t been part of the national setup since 2024, are set to make a return.

Former Cavalier FC star, Ronaldo Webster, who has played just once competitive game for the Reggae Boyz, will also make the cut after impressing in the Macedonia top flight with title hopefuls Shkendija Tetovo.

Although admitting Speid’s selection process will be viewed as unpopular, Ricketts says he’s confident Speid and the technical staff will achieve the ultimate goal of World Cup qualification.

“It is all in the interest of getting our squad together that will represent us well and will win the two games and take us to the World Cup,” he said.

“We are giving it everything — we have missed probably the easier route but we are intent on doing very well and I have entrusted the whole process with Speid and [Miguel] Coley, [whom] I have a meeting with on Friday just for them to give me an update as to where we are. We still have to be hopeful but very optimistic. We get past New Caledonia and then of course DR Congo, which I understand may be the tougher opponent of the two, but we are mentally prepared and the players, I understand, are in good spirits.”

The squad is expected to leave the island on Tuesday before taking on New Caledonia on Thursday. A win will see them battle DR Congo for a spot in Group K of the World Cup, joining Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.

(From left) Reggae Boyz Mason Holgate, Isaac Hayden and Shamar Nicholson in a recent training session. The Jamaica Observer understands that Holgate and Nicholson will be excluded from the squad travelling to Mexico for the FIFA World Cup Intercontinental play-off game against Caledonia on Thursday, and potentially DR Congo the following Tuesday as the team makes a final attempt to qualify for the World Cup this summer. (Photo: Garfield Robisnon)

Reggae Boyz interim head coach Rudoph SpeidPhoto: Joseph Wellington

Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaica Football FederationGarfield Robinson