Despite the Reggae Boyz’s goalless 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 team’s prospects. Ricketts is confident that the foundation is being laid for the ultimate goal—qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Under new Head Coach Steve McClaren, the Reggae Boyz dominated the match from the start, but were unable to convert any of their 14 shots on target. Despite Cuba’s numerical disadvantage following a red card in the 44th minute, the Cubans managed to secure an unlikely draw.
Looking ahead, the Reggae Boyz will travel to face Honduras on Tuesday. Honduras, having secured a 4-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in their opening game, will present a challenging opponent.
Ricketts, undeterred by the result, believes that the team is progressing in the right direction. He emphasized that the primary objective remains qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “The Central American teams are always tough, but if you are going to qualify for the World Cup you have to beat some tough teams,” Ricketts explained. “I have always had trust and confidence in the coach and the coaching staff. Let’s use these games as part of the process to reach the World Cup.”
He acknowledged that McClaren needs more time to fully assess and develop the team. “It’s a work in progress. We played a decent game but didn’t score. There’s a lot to learn from this evening,” Ricketts added.
Ricketts praised Cuban goalkeeper Rako Arozarena for his exceptional performance, which prevented the Reggae Boyz from scoring despite their numerous attempts. “Their goalkeeper was excellent, making brilliant saves and denying us repeatedly,” he said. “It’s disappointing we didn’t score, but there are interesting times ahead.”
The JFF president also highlighted the impressive turnout of nearly 20,000 spectators at the National Stadium, the largest crowd he has seen for a Reggae Boyz match in recent years. “It’s a work in progress, but I am definitely happy with the turnout. It shows that football is alive and well,” Ricketts stated. “We need to keep doing things to make the fans happy. The Cubans defended well, and we didn’t manage to break down their defense.”
