Their sole appearance in the FIFA World Cup was in 1998, where the team finished third in its group and failed to advance. The team also competed in the Caribbean Cup winning six times. Jamaica also competes in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, appearing thirteen times and finishing twice as runners-up to Mexico in 2015 and the United States in 2017. They were also invited to the Copa América in 2015 and 2016, being eliminated in the group stage on both occasions. Jamaica also qualified for the 2024 Copa América.
History
Early history (1786–1962)
In 1893, Jamaica's first football club, the Kingston Cricket Club, was formed.[3] In 1910, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) was formed and controlled all of the games. The first game was played on 22 March 1925, as the opener in a three game series against Haiti. Jamaica won the first game, 2 to 1, followed by victories of 3-0 and 1-0 in the other two.[4][3] In 1926, Jamaica hosted Haiti at Sabina Park and won 6–0.[3][5] At the 1930 Central American Games in Cuba, Jamaica made its first international tournament appearance and lost both games in its group.[6]
In 1952, the Caribbean All-Star team was formed with players from Trinidad, Cuba, Haiti, and Suriname. The team played four matches against Jamaica in Sabina Park. Jamaica won the second game 2–1 and the fourth 1–0, and the All-Stars won the first game 5–1 and the third 1–0.[7]
In 1965, Jamaica attempted to qualify for the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. After finishing first in its preliminary group that included Cuba and the Netherlands Antilles; Jamaica faced Costa Rica and Mexico in the final round, where the winner would qualify for the World Cup. Opening the final round campaign with a 3–2 loss at home against Mexico,[12] Jamaica lost the return match 8–0, with Isidoro Díaz getting a hat-trick for Mexico. Jamaica then lost 7–0 to Costa Rica and ended with a draw at home in the return match, ultimately finishing with a single point.[9] In January 1967, Jamaica attempted to qualify for the CONCACAF Championship but was eliminated after finishing third in the group of five.[13]
In 1968, George Hamilton became the new coach as Jamaica attempted to qualify for the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.[9] Most of the squad for the campaign was young with only a few remaining players from its previous attempt at qualifying being in the team. This was due to most of its players being either retired or migrated abroad.[9] Jamaica finished last with zero points from four games.[14][9] After finishing last in the 1969 CONCACAF Championship[15] and not qualifying for the following championship,[16] Jamaica had to withdraw from qualifying for the 1973 CONCACAF Championship after 17 players were suspended for poor behavior during a tour to Bermuda.[17] In 1977, Jamaica competed in qualifying for the 1977 CONCACAF Championship, which was also the qualifier for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. Taking on Cuba in the first round, Jamaica lost both of its games 5–1 on aggregate.[9]
Jamaica did not attempt to qualify for the 1982 and 1986 due to insufficient funds and a poorly prepared team.[9] The team returned to international competition after qualifying for the 1989 CONCACAF Championship, which was part of the qualifiers for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. After defeating Puerto Rico 3–1 on aggregate in the preliminary round, Jamaica played the United States for a spot in the finals. After a 0–0 draw at home, Jamaica lost 5–1 in the US and was eliminated.[9]
Caribbean triumph and World Cup appearance (1990–2000)
In 1990, Carl Brown was signed as head coach and led Jamaica into qualifying for the 1990 Caribbean Cup, finishing tied for third place after the final round was abandoned due to Tropical Storm Arthur.[18] In 1991, Jamaica defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2–0 to win the Caribbean Cup and qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.[19] In the Gold Cup, Jamaica finished last with zero points in a group consisting of Honduras, Mexico, and Canada.[20]
After the Jamaicans lost to Trinidad and Tobago in the final of the 1992 Caribbean Cup,[21] they started their campaign in preliminary rounds of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. After defeating Puerto Rico 3–1 on aggregate in the second preliminary round, Jamaica eliminated Trinidad and Tobago and was grouped with Bermuda, Canada, and El Salvador, two of which would advance to the final round. Jamaica opened the second round with two 1–1 draws against Canada and Bermuda, but the team lost its return match in Canada after a single goal from Dale Mitchell. After a 3–2 home win over Bermuda and two losses to El Salvador, Jamaica finished in third place and was eliminated.[22]
In 1993, Jamaica finished in second place after losing on penalties to Martinique in the final of the Caribbean Cup, which was a qualifier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup which was held later that year.[23] During this tournament, the team opened with a 1–0 loss to the US before recording their first Gold Cup win against Honduras. After qualifying in second place with a 1–1 draw against Honduras, Jamaica lost 6–1 to Mexico in the semi-final in Mexico City.[24] After not qualifying for the final round of the 1994 Caribbean Cup despite recording its largest-ever win margin in a 12–0 win against the British Virgin Islands, the team decided to hire Brazilian René Simões to assist Brown with the goal of qualifying for the 1998 World Cup.[3] After being eliminated in the group stage of both the 1995 Caribbean Cup by virtue of head-to-head and the 1996 Caribbean Cup,[25][26] Jamaica opened its 1998 World Cup qualifiers with an 2–0 aggregate win over Suriname and defeated Barbados 3–0 in the following round.[27] In 1997, Simões, by then promoted to head coach, scouted for players in England that had Jamaican heritage to join the national team. Paul Hall, Fitzroy Simpson, Deon Burton and Robbie Earle were all named in the squad due their heritage.[28] The term 'UB40' became used in Jamaica and more widely to describe their British-born players such as Hall and Gayle, the term is a nod to the English band UB40, who perform reggae, a genre of music that originated in Jamaica.[29][30] After finishing winless in the first four games of the final qualifying round, Jamaica recorded three 1–0 wins over El Salvador, Canada, and Costa Rica, with Burton scoring the winning goal in each of the latter two matches. After a 0–0 draw against Mexico, Jamaica secured its qualification and made its first-ever World Cup appearance, and the following day was declared a national holiday.[31]
In 1998, Jamaica competed at the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup, finishing first in a group comprising World Cup champion Brazil, Guatemala, and El Salvador. With the help of goalkeeper Warren Barrett, Jamaica opened with a 0–0 tie against Brazil.[32] After wins over Guatemala and El Salvador, Jamaica advanced to the semi-final against Mexico. The match went into overtime before Mexican player Luis Hernandez scored the winning goal. In the third-place playoff, Jamaica lost 1–0 to Brazil, ending in fourth place.[33] At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica finished third in Group H with three points from a 2–1 win against Japan in Lyon. Theodore Whitmore scored both goals in the victory.[34]
The following month, Jamaica competed in the finals of the 1998 Caribbean Cup, which was a qualifier for the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. After finishing first in its group, Jamaica won the final 2–1 against Trinidad and Tobago, with goals from Oneil McDonald and Dean Sewell.[35] In 1999, Jamaica experienced its biggest defeat in a 9–0 loss against Costa Rica.[36] After finishing second in its group, Jamaica was eliminated by Cuba in the semi-finals of the 1999 Caribbean Cup.[37] At the Gold Cup, Jamaica finished last in its group, losing against Colombia and Honduras 2–0 and 1–0, respectively.[38]
Struggles at continental level (2001–2009)
In the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification semi-finals, Jamaica faced Honduras, El Salvador, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the second group. Jamaica finished second, securing a spot in the final round despite losing two games to Honduras and El Salvador. In the final round of qualifying, Jamaica finished in fifth place after being eliminating by Honduras.[39] Between the two rounds of World Cup qualifying, Jamaica was eliminated in the group stage of the 2001 Caribbean Cup by goal-difference and missed out on qualifying for the Gold Cup the following year.[40] Jamaica qualified for the 2003 Gold Cup, reaching the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Mexico 5–0 at the Estadio Azteca.[41]
Jamaica started its 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in the second round with a 4–1 aggregate win over Haiti to reach the third round. Jamaica finished third in group play, with a 1–1 draw against the US and one point away from reaching the next round. Coach Sebastião Lazaroni was sacked due to the team's performance.[42] In the 2005 Caribbean Cup, Jamaica tied its largest-ever win margin record with a 12–0 win over Saint Martin, with Luton Shelton and Roland Dean both getting hat-tricks.[43] After reaching the final with wins against Saint Lucia and French Guiana, Jamaica claimed its third title and a spot at the Gold Cup.[44] At the Gold Cup, Jamaica reached the quarter-finals before losing to the US 3–1 in Foxborough, with American player DaMarcus Beasley scoring two goals.[45]
In 2006 and 2007, Jamaica continued to struggle, with one Jamaican journalist dubbing the team "The Reggae Toyz".[46] The team failed to qualify for the 2007 Caribbean Cup after being eliminated due to goals scored, with St. Vincent and the Grenadines scoring three more goals than Jamaica.[47] Two managers later, the team only earned a single point from three matches in the third round of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With coach Theodore Whitmore, Jamaica secured three wins from its remaining matches, jumping from 116th[A] to 83rd place in the world rankings.[48] Despite the team's final win over Canada, Jamaica was eliminated by goal difference after Mexico finished three goals ahead.[49] Jamaica won the 2008 Caribbean Cup, with Luton Shelton scoring both goals in the victory against Grenada to qualify for the Gold Cup.[50] At the Gold Cup, Jamaica finished third in its group; with a single win over El Salvador, the side finished last among the third-place teams and was eliminated.[51]
Jamaica entered the final round of the 2010 Caribbean Cup after a 0–0 draw with Costa Rica.[52] After finishing first in its group, Jamaica won against Grenada in the semi-finals, then defeating first-time finalists Guadeloupe in a penalty shoot-out. Jamaica earned its fifth title, and coach Theodore Whitmore became the first to win the Caribbean Cup as both player and coach.[53][54] In the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Jamaica finished first in its group, beating Grenada 4–0, Guatemala 2–0, and Honduras 1–0 before being eliminated by the US, with goals from American players Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey.[55][56]
In qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica started in the third round and earned seven points in the first three games, which included a historic 2–1 win over the United States at home which was their first win over the Americans.[57] Jamaica later qualified with a 4–1 win over Antigua and Barbuda, finishing two goals ahead of Guatemala in its group.[58] After the team finished last in its group for the 2012 Caribbean Cup[59] and failed to record a win in six matches in the fourth round of qualifying, team manager Theodore Whitmore resigned and was replaced by German coach Winfried Schäfer.[60][61] After a 2–0 loss to the US, Jamaica finished in last place and was eliminated.[62]
After qualifying for the 2015 Gold Cup due to winning the 2014 Caribbean Cup,[63] Jamaica was invited to compete in the 2015 edition of the Copa América in Chile.[64] At the Copa America, Jamaica was drawn in Group B with Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. Jamaica finished last after losing all three of its matches 1–0, with Jobi McAnuff saying, "I don't think many people would have given us that chance."[65] A few weeks later in the 2015 Gold Cup, Jamaica finished first in its group and defeated Haiti in the quarter-finals with a goal from Giles Barnes to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time since 1998.[66] In the semi-final, Jamaica defeated the US 2–1 with goals from Darren Mattocks and Giles Barnes, reaching its first-ever Gold Cup final. In the final, Jamaica lost to Mexico 3–1.[67][68]
In qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica started in the third round and defeated Nicaragua 4–3 on aggregate to reach the fourth round.[69] In the fourth round, Jamaica started off strong with a 1–0 win over Haiti and a 1–1 draw with Costa Rica, earning four points after three games.[70] However, three straight losses, including a 2–0 loss against Panama, eliminated Jamaica from World Cup qualifying.[71] Between the fourth-round matches, Jamaica competed in the Copa América Centenario after qualifying through the 2014 Caribbean Cup. Jamaica finished with no points from their three games, scoring no goals and conceding six.[63][72]
After Whitmore returned to the team,[73] Jamaica qualified for the 2017 Caribbean Cup, reaching the final before losing to first-time finalists Curaçao 2–1, with Elson Hooi scoring both of Curaçao's goals.[74] In the 2017 Gold Cup, Jamaica upset Mexico 1–0 in the semi-finals, with Kemar Lawrence scoring the goal.[75] In the final against the US, Jamaica conceded the opening goal at the end of the first half before Je-Vaughn Watson tied the score in the 50th minute. However, after a goal in the 88th minute from Jordan Morris, the US won the title, and Jamaica finished as runner-up.[76]
Post-pandemic (2020–present)
In 2020, Jamaica played a single international friendly versus Bermuda before all international football was placed on hold by FIFA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[77]
On 21 November 2023, Jamaica qualified for the 2024 Copa América by reaching the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A semifinals on a 3–2 comeback against Canada. Jamaica had previously lost 2–1 on the first leg, however, the victory resulted in a 4–4 goal aggregate tie that went in their favour after winning 3–2 on away goals.[81][82][83][84][85]
Between 1926 and 1962. Jamaica played its matches at Sabina Park, which is also home to the West Indies cricket team.[86] In 1962, the football team moved to Independence Park, which was built for the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games held after the country gained independence; the first home match was a 6–1 victory over Puerto Rico.[10][87] The stadium is nicknamed The Office while the team plays.[88]
The national team have used four clothing manufacturers to supply the official kit for Jamaica. The team's first supplier was Italian manufacturer Lanzera in 1995 before it merged with Kappa a year later. This deal was terminated after the 1998 World Cup.[92] In 2000, the JFF signed a deal with German sporting brand Uhlsport, which lasted until 2006.[93][94] After another three-year contract with Kappa between 2012 and 2014,[95] the JFF signed a four-year deal with Emirati sportswear company Romai Sports for US$4.8 million.[96]
In 2021, Umbro was the kit provider for Jamaica.[97] In 2022, Adidas signed a deal to become the new kit provider for Jamaica starting in 2023.[98]
The following players were named to the squad for their CONCACAF Nations League matches against the United States on 18 November 2024.[99][100][101][102][103]
Caps and goals correct as of 14 October 2024, after the match against Honduras.
INJ Withdrew from the squad due to injury / absent from the national team due to injury. WD Withdrew from the squad for personal reasons. PRE Preliminary squad / standby. RET Retired from the national team.
Jamaica's only appearance at the FIFA World Cup was in 1998. The team opened with a 3–1 loss against Croatia in Lens. After falling behind in the 27th minute, Robbie Earle scored the equalizer to close the first half. In the second half, Croatia scored two goals, causing Jamaica to lose the match.[106] The second match against Argentina saw Gabriel Batistuta getting a second half hat-trick, aiding in Jamaica's second defeat and elimination from the World Cup.[107] In the final match of the tournament, Theodore Whitmore scored a double, securing Jamaica's first World Cup win with a 2–1 win over Japan, whilst also allowing Jamaica to become the second team from the Caribbean after Cuba to have won a World Cup game.[34]
As of 14 November 2024, the national team has played in 538 matches, with 238 wins, 135 draws, and 232 losses since their first international match in 1925. In total, the team has scored 794 goals and conceded 790 goals.[108] Jamaica's highest winning margin is twelve goals, which has been achieved on two occasions: against the British Virgin Islands in 1994 (12–0) and against Saint Martin in 2004 (12–0).[5] Their longest winning streak is seven wins and their unbeaten record is 22 consecutive official matches.[5]
The Honduras national football team represents Honduras in men's international football. The team is governed by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras. They are nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor, or La H.
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The Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team is the national team of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and is controlled by the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association. They are affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF. The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, however, they did qualify for their first CONCACAF Gold Cup appearance in 2023.
The JamaicaPremier League, commonly abbreviated as JPL and officially known as the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is sanctioned by the Jamaican Football Federation as the top division for men's association football in Jamaica. Contested between 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Jamaica Football Championship. Most games are played on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings (Monday Night Football).
The Caribbean Cup was a regional football competition for senior national teams from the Caribbean. It was organized by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), the regional body for the Caribbean zone under CONCACAF. The tournament was held from 1989 to 2017, as the successor competition of the CFU Championship and also served as a qualification method for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is the governing body of football in Jamaica and is in charge of the Jamaica national football team and the Jamaica Premier League.
Football is one of the most popular sports in Jamaica. It is enjoyed by Jamaicans from all walks of life and has grown in popularity in modern society.
Theodore Eccleston Whitmore, OD, is a Jamaican former professional footballer. He is the former head coach of Jamaica national football team.
Luton George Kieshawn Shelton was a Jamaican professional footballer who played as a striker or winger. At the time of his death, he was the top scorer for the Jamaica national team with 35 goals. He is also the only men's football player to score four goals in his international debut (2004). He earned 75 caps for Jamaica, and played at three CONCACAF Gold Cups.
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Dwayne St Aubyn Miller is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He has won more than 30 caps for the Jamaica national football team. Miller was also part of the squad that reached the final and won the silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games.
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Ryan Andre Oniel Thompson is a Jamaican former footballer, who is currently the goalkeeper coach of MLS Next Pro club Houston Dynamo 2.
This is a record of Jamaica's results at the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA World Cup, sometimes called the Football World Cup or the Soccer World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, due to World War II.
Women's football in Jamaica was first reported in 1935. The sport later grew in popularity, forming leagues and eventually the Caribbean's first team to qualify for a FIFA Women's World Cup.
Andre Jason Blake is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer and captains the Jamaica national team.
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The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world.
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↑ blaked@jamaicaobserver.com, BY DANIEL BLAKE Staff reporter (14 October 2024). "GET THE JOB DONE! - Jamaica Observer". www.jamaicaobserver.com. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
↑ DeSimone, Bonnie (15 June 1998). "Croatia 3, Jamaica 1". Chicago Tribune. Lens. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
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