Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake on Thursday issued a heartfelt message to Jamaicans following the team’s failure to secure automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup.

In a post on Instagram, he expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and apologised to fans over the team’s flop on the national stage.

“Thank you, the support was unreal… As the leader of this group we have failed to deliver and missed out on a massive opportunity … and for that I am really sorry,” Blake said.

Blake’s statement comes after Jamaica’s 0–0 draw with Curaçao at home in their final game of Concacaf qualifiers, a result which ended the Reggae Boyz’ hopes of securing automatic qualification to the World Cup.

READ: Reggae Boyz falter, forced into inter-confederation play-offs for World Cup

It’s a dramatic fall for the team who were seen as heavy favourites after being drawn with Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda in the final round qualifying group.

Blake, the longstanding captain who is highly respected by Jamaican football fans, had previously stated his desire to “do whatever it takes” to lead Jamaica to their second-ever World Cup appearance.

The Reggae Boyz now face an uphill battle in a last shot at redemption in the inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026, when they will face New Caledonia and possibly the Democratic Republic of Congo for a berth at the global showpiece.

They will also have to complete the campaign under the guidance of a new manager, as head coach Steve McClaren resigned immediately after the match Tuesday.

READ: McClaren quits as Reggae Boyz miss out on automatic World Cup qualification

“Football is a results business, and tonight we’ve fallen short of our goal, which was to qualify for this World Cup,” McClaren told journalists at the post-match news conference, adding that it is the responsibility of the leader to step forward, take accountability and make decisions in the best interest of the team for them to go forward.