WHILE conversations continue around Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz squad for this week’s FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs, interim Head Coach Rudolph Speid says past disciplinary issues were a factor in the exclusion of some prominent players.

Speid named his 27-man squad last Friday, ahead of their inter-continental play-off semi-final clash with Oceania’s New Caledonia in Guadalajara on Thursday. Victory would set up a final clash with Africa’s DR Congo next Tuesday for a place at this summer’s showpiece.

Some 12 players from Steve McClaren’s last squad who faced Trinidad and Tobago and Curacao in the final games of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers last November were left out, including striker Shamar Nicholson, winger Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, and forward Kaheim Dixon.

Speid, who took over last November, outlined his selection criteria in January, stating that players must be contracted to clubs in the top 20 leagues globally or competing in their country’s top division, while also being fit, playing regularly, and performing at a high level.

While admitting that some of the players left out satisfied aspects of the criteria, Speid, who did not reference any individual, told the Jamaica Observer that their professionalism in previous national camps weighed against them.

“I am not a person who is going to hide what players do — if you do something, you must own up to it,” he said.

“When you’re looking at certain players, we know they have a history of breaking curfew, they have a history of not sleeping in the hotel that was provided for them, they have a history of bringing their family to work, they have a history of behavioural issues. So, you made the criteria but you’re struggling now with the conditions, so somebody else that is not struggling with the conditions, they get the edge — and simply that’s what happened.”

Speid has put faith in three new English-born players to be part of the squad — Coventry City winger Ephron Mason-Clark, Sheffield United winger Andre Brooks, and Tottenham prospect Tyrese Hall who is currently on loan at Notts County FC.

While many believe it’s a risk over selecting players who have already played for Jamaica, Speid says he has no such concerns.

“They are performing at a very high level, probably better than some of the fan favourites,” he said. “Performance is always the first thing you look at; they fit the criteria and they fit the conditions better than some other players so it was really a no-brainer to bring them in.”

Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, who hasn’t played for Jamaica since last June, makes a return to the squad as does midfielder Kasey Palmer who missed the final two qualifiers due to injury. Wingers Norman Campbell and Jamal Lowe earned recalls for the first time since 2024 while left back Ronaldo Webster, currently playing in Macedonia, also got the nod despite playing just one competitive game for the national team which was a three-minute cameo against Bermuda last September during World Cup qualifying matches.

Regular first-team stars, including Captain Andre Blake, Damion Lowe, Richard King, Bobby Reid and Demarai Gray, have all been included.

Speid says he’s fully satisfied with his selections, despite having a large quality pool to select from.

“There was some degree of difficulty because there were some names that came up that we really had to make a decision,” he said. “But one thing guided us — we stuck to the criteria and we stuck to the other stuff that we wanted players to be wary of, and I think that helped tremendously. I think 80 per cent of the team would have just picked themselves without us having to really think about it.”

The squad is set to report today on Kingston before departing Mexico on Tuesday for the play-offs.

Jamaica will be looking to end their near-30-year World Cup drought and join Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K at this summer’s tournament.

Jamaican goalscorer Renaldo Cephas (left) celebrates with teammate Shamar Nicholson after giving his team the lead in the 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago during the Concacaf World Cup qualifier at Hasely Crawford Stadium on November 13, 2025. Photo: Garfield Robinson

Jamaica winger Dujuan Richards (left) takes on Curacao defender Sherel Floranus during the Concacaf World Cup Qualifier at the National Stadium on November 18, 2025. Photo: Garfield Robinson

Jamaica’s Damion Lowe (right) kicks the ball under pressure from Kaheim Dixon during team training at Stadium East on Sunday, October 12, 2025.Jamaica’s Damion Lowe (right) kicks the ball under pressure from Kaheim Dixon during team training at Stadium East on October 12, 2025. Photo: JFF