KINGSTON, Jamaica — The long-awaited, newly formatted Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Manning Cup competition kicks off on Wednesday with nine matches scheduled across the Corporate Area.

Jamaica’s schoolboy football landscape is set for one of its biggest changes in years, with ISSA introducing a revamped format for its competitions for the 2026 season.

The new structure is designed to make the competition more competitive, reduce one-sided matches and give more teams opportunities to challenge for major trophies.

For the Manning Cup, which was first contested in 1914, ISSA has introduced a two-tier structure. The 15 seeded teams have received byes into the second round, while 24 unseeded teams will battle in the opening round, with nine advancing to join the seeded teams.

The 24 teams will then be divided into four groups of six, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the Round of 16.

At that stage, the 16 remaining teams will be divided into four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the quarter-finals.

The new format is expected to produce more competitive matches in the opening round, while allowing seeded teams to enter the competition later, when the stakes are higher.

Wednesday’s opening schedule features several intriguing encounters, including a clash between former champions Bridgeport High and Camperdown High at Dunbeholden in a Zone A encounter.

Both schools have struggled in recent years and will be hoping to revive their fortunes. Camperdown are seeking to end a 44-year Manning Cup drought, having last lifted the title in 1982, while Bridgeport’s most recent triumph came 20 years ago in 2006.

The other two Zone A matches will see Jonathan Grant High hosting Ascot High, while Holy Trinity High travel to Waterford High. All three Zone A matches are scheduled for 3:30 pm.

There will also be a clash of fallen champions in Zone C, where Norman Manley High face Ardenne High at the Maxfield Park field.

Ardenne have won the Manning Cup once, in 1991, while Norman Manley are two-time champions, having captured the title in 1996 and 2002.

In the other Zone C fixtures, Donald Quarrie High take on Kingston Technical, while Denham Town High face Edith Dalton James at the Tivoli Gardens Community Centre.

In Zone B, St Mary’s College will host Jose Marti Technical, while Clan Carthy High travel to Penwood High. Innswood High will also take on Hillel Academy.

With the new format promising a different path to the title, the opening round will provide an early indication of which teams are ready to adapt and make a serious push for the second round of the Manning Cup

— Howard Walker