‘NO EASY GAMES’
McClaren expects tough challenge in final round of World Cup Qualifiers
Published:Sunday | August 31, 2025 | 12:20 AMGregory Bryce - Staff Reporter
REPEATING HIS age-old adage of there being ‘no easy games in the Caribbean’, Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren has warned against the notion that the final round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers will be a simple formality for Jamaica’s qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
McClaren was speaking at a press conference at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters on Friday where he revealed his 26-man squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking particularly about the Bermuda game, McClaren said it will not be an easy outing despite the gulf between the two teams in FIFA and Concacaf rankings.
He pointed to Bermudan striker Nahki Wells as one example of the threat Bermuda can pose to the Boyz.
“I’m looking forward to the two games coming up, the first being Bermuda, next Friday,” he said.
“I know Nahki Wells very well. I’ve coached him. He’s being brought back into the squad so he will be a big threat.
“They have tremendous spirit which we will have to match and we have to respect the opponents. We know that from the BVI experience and the St Vincent experience,” he continued. “My motto is, there are no easy games in the Caribbean.”
The Reggae Boyz boss also said the following match against Trinidad and Tobago is set to be a heavy clash at the National Stadium.
The twin-island republic, fierce rivals of Jamaica, are also in search of their second-ever World Cup appearance following their debut in 2006.
Based on form and recent results, the Reggae Boyz will enter as favourites, but McClaren has not dismissed the threat posed by the Trinidadians, led by their head coach Dwight Yorke.
“Of course, we have Trinidad on the ninth at the National Stadium; [our] old rivals. I think they’re growing and Trinidad is what I call a dangerous team with dangerous players and with Dwight Yorke, they have started to build something.”
Jamaica last played Trinidad at the Unity Cup earlier this year, where they came out 3-2 victors.
The other team in the group, Curacao, are also expected to put up a challenge against the Boyz.
RECRUITING FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
The Dutch Caribbean island have been recruiting heavily in preparation for the Word Cup Qualifiers, which include the marquee acquisition of Sheffield United’s Tahith Chong.
McClaren said the level of football in the Caribbean has continued to grow since his appointment and he expects a strong challenge from all the teams in the group.
He explained that no matter the size of the nation, each team has continued to fight with a strong spirit which will need a collective group effort to overcome.
“Concacaf is different, Caribbean football is different,” he said.
“It’s exciting, it’s a great brand of football, it’s athletic, it’s strong and it’s quick. Every player has to adapt, every coach has to adapt and I’m exactly in the boat.
“The big lesson I’ve learnt that there are no easy games and we have not had any easy games, even against nations which you think we should beat easily.”
“What I see is that the team overcomes a team of individuals.”
Jamaica will open Group B action against Bermuda on September 5 in an away fixture before playing hosts to Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago at the National Stadium on September 9.
The final round of qualifiers will see the teams compete in a round-robin format, playing home and away, with the winner of the group qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The next best two second-placed teams will advance to the intercontinental playoffs for another chance at qualification.