DESPITE FIFA expressing concerns about Jamaica’s readiness to host matches at the Women’s World Cup in 2031, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts says he’s confident the country will secure hosting rights, with an official announcement expected in November.

Last October, Jamaica joined the USA, Mexico, and Costa Rica in launching a joint bid to host the 2031 tournament, which would mark the first time a FIFA World Cup would be staged across four countries.

A FIFA delegation visited the island in February, inspecting facilities including the National Stadium and meeting with representatives of the Jamaica Football Federation and the Government. Hosts were initially expected to be confirmed at the FIFA Congress in Canada in April, but the world governing body postponed the announcement until November 23.

Despite the delay, Sports Minister Olivia Grange told Parliament last month that Jamaica had been selected as one of the hosts, although FIFA has yet to officially confirm the successful bid.

FIFA Consultant and Women’s Football Division Advisor Jose Andres Portabella told the Jamaica Observer that while FIFA is enthusiastic about Jamaica hosting matches, there is no guarantee the country will be selected.

FIFA Consultant and Women’s Football Division Advisor Jose Andres Portabella speaking at the launch of the JFF Women’s Strategic Plan, at the Jaguar Land Rover Showroom on Monday, June 8, 2026. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

“I couldn’t be more excited about the possibility of the World Cup coming to Jamaica in 2031,” he said. “FIFA wants to see football all over the world. Next year, the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil, which shows the first time ever that the World Cup goes to South America. It’s going to be a fantastic performance by players, by fans, incredible stadiums, so why not Jamaica in 2031 with the US, and Mexico, and Costa Rica?”

“There’s a lot of work to be done, let’s be clear. We have had a delegation that’s come here to visit already [so] you (Jamaica) know what you need to do. The infrastructure is a key component of hosting the Women’s World Cup so we’re hopeful, we’re excited, and we’re looking forward to seeing what Jamaica does to bring this tournament to the island.”

It’s understood that USA and Mexico are almost guaranteed to host the tournament given their established infrastructure, some of which was on display during the recently concluded FIFA Men’s World Cup. Costa Rica is also reportedly well positioned, having hosted FIFA youth tournaments including the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2022.

Jamaica has never hosted a FIFA tournament but it has staged several Concacaf competitions, most notably the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, becoming the first Caribbean nation to do so.

Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Although the country faces a nervous four-month wait for the Women’s World Cup decision, Ricketts told the
Observer he’s optimistic Jamaica will host matches after seeing the level of work and commitment that has gone into the bid.

“When the FIFA team came here we had intense discussions with the contractors who would be doing the renovation and the refurbishing of the National Stadium, and they would have done a presentation which, based on the body language from the FIFA reps, we’re pretty satisfied and pretty confident that we will be in a position to host the Women’s World Cup in 2031,” he said.

“Minister Grange did make an announcement in Parliament. She was pretty confident and so am I, and I want to believe that we will be one of the four countries that will be hosting the 2031 Women’s World Cup.”

The redevelopment of the National Stadium, which is intended to meet FIFA standards, is expected to begin in July or August 2027, with United Kingdom-based Ryder Architecture and global consulting firm CAA Icon currently completing the detailed design phase, after the feasibility study and concept design.

Last summer Grange said the redevelopment would be completed in 2029. However, during World Athletics President Seb Coe’s visit to Jamaica in January she said she could not provide a completion date, although she was “conscious that we have to be finished by a particular time”.

Jamaica’s Deneisha Blackwood (top) celebrates with her teammates after their FIFA Women’s World Cup Group F match against France at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday.(Photo: AP)

Ricketts says FIFA would still allow Jamaica to host the World Cup even if the National Stadium’s full upgrade isn’t completed by 2031.

“I would want to think that even if — and I’m hoping that it doesn’t happen — the stadium is not completely refurbished we still would be in a position to host,” he said. “Of course our stadium is, maybe, archaic but when you look at some other stadiums around Concacaf, it is still not the worst. And I would think if we can’t get it fully refurbished and we can do minor repairs and minor adjustments, we still would be in a position to host the World Cup.

“It’s unfortunate that we really do not have options like some countries do but this is our main stadium — and, of course, it’s probably the only stadium that could really host a World Cup game — but it’s not that bad. And I don’t think FIFA would come down [hard, even though] they would not be totally happy if the stadium was not refurbished and ready, because they were given some kind of a guarantee from the contractors.

“It’s out of the hands of the JFF and out of the hands of even Concacaf but the Government has given an indication. And, having had discussions with the contractors who did a presentation to the FIFA group in the presence of the IPL [Independence Park Limited] personnel, persons representing Minister Grange’s office, the JFF and Concacaf… we are pretty confident that we will host this major tournament — probably the biggest thing ever to happen in local football, maybe in local sport.”

The National Stadium (Photo: Garfield Robinson)