McClaren to Axe Several Players Ahead of Final Round of WCQ

Coach of Jamaica’s senior men’s football team, Steve McClaren, says some players will not be a part of the squad for the final round of the World Cup Qualifiers.

McClaren made the statement following Jamaica’s exit from the Gold Cup at the Group Stage.

Jamaica will play in Group “B” of the qualifiers along with Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda, and Curacao.

At the conclusion of group play, the three group winners will qualify directly to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Additionally, the two best second-place finishers will advance to a FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off, to be played in March 2026.

The final round is set to kick-off in September.

McClaren says he’ll be using the next two months to evaluate the players and decide who is the right fit to take Jamaica to the 2026 World Cup.

He says the players will have to display certain characteristics if the want to be in the squad for the qualifiers.

Steve McClaren.

In the meantime, McLaren has been asked to be present at a meeting with the technical staff of the JFF.

The meeting is explain how Jamaica failed to get out of the group stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup and other matters pertaining to the team.

The date for the meeting has not yet been decided.

It was the first time in 16 years that Jamaica failed to progress from the group stage at the Gold Cup.