KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will know their semi-final opponents in the play-offs for the FIFA World Cup set for March in Mexico at Thursday morning’s official draw.

Jamaica, who failed to get an automatic berth after they were held 0-0 at the National Stadium on Tuesday by first time qualifiers Curacao in their Concacaf Group B top of the tables clash, is one of six teams that will play-off for the final two spots in the World Cup set for July next year in the United States (US), Canada and Mexico.

Curacao topped the zone with 12 points, one more than Jamaica who are seeking to return to the World Cup for the first time since France 1998.

Jamaica are one of two Concacaf teams through to the play-offs which will be staged in Mexico during the March FIFA window with Suriname also advancing along with Iraq from the Asian Federation, the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the African Federation, Bolivia from Conmebol (South America) and New Caledonia of Oceana.

Based on the format, DR Congo who are ranked 56th in the latest FIFA rankings and Iraq who are 58th will be seeded and get byes to the semi-finals while the other four teams will be placed in another pot for the draw.

Jamaica who are ranked 70th, third best and Suriname who are ranked 123rd will not meet each other in the first round of games, given they are both from Concacaf.

The winners of the first round games will advance to play Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq with the winners completing the qualifiers for the World Cup.

— Paul Reid