Despite a frustrating 0-0 draw against 10-man Cuba in their opening Concacaf Nations League match on Friday, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts remains optimistic about the Reggae Boyz’s prospects. Ricketts believes that the team is on the right path toward achieving their primary goal: qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match, which was the first under new Head Coach Steve McClaren, saw the Reggae Boyz dominating possession and generating 14 shots on target. However, their efforts were thwarted by the Cuban defense and goalkeeper Rako Arozarena, who made a series of crucial saves. The Cubans, reduced to 10 men in the 44th minute, managed to hold on for a surprising draw.
Looking ahead, the Reggae Boyz will travel to face Honduras in their next match on Tuesday. Honduras secured a decisive 4-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in their opening game.
Ricketts remains confident that the team is making progress. “Central American teams are always tough, but if you’re going to qualify for the World Cup, you have to overcome some tough opponents,” he explained. “I have full trust in Coach McClaren and his staff. The 2026 World Cup is the big picture, and we’re using these games as part of our process to reach that goal.”
He acknowledged that the team is still evolving. “Coach McClaren needs more time to evaluate the players’ strengths and weaknesses. It’s a work in progress. We played a decent game but didn’t convert our chances,” Ricketts said.
Ricketts also praised the performance of Cuban goalkeeper Rako Arozarena, who he felt was instrumental in denying the Reggae Boyz. “Their goalkeeper was excellent, making several brilliant saves. It’s disappointing not to score, but there are promising signs ahead,” he noted.
The JFF President also highlighted the strong turnout for the match, with close to 20,000 spectators in attendance. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen such a large crowd at the National Stadium. It shows that football is alive and well in Jamaica,” Ricketts said. “We need to continue to deliver performances that make our fans proud. There were moments of brilliance, but we need to improve our ability to break down defenses.”
