Rest of U20 National Team Off to Mexico for WCQ

The second batch of Jamaica’s national Under 20 men’s football team is travelling today to Mexico ahead of Friday’s opening game against the United States at the Concacaf final round World Cup Qualifiers.

The first batch left on Tuesday, which means the team will assemble in Mexico just two days before the crucial opener.

Jamaicans were drawn in Group A alongside the Americans, Costa Rica and Cuba and will play their games in the Port City of Celaya which houses the Estadio Miguel Aleman Valdes where they’ll play all their group games.

Jamaica’s opening game against the defending champions U.S. is on Friday starting at 9pm and it follows the Costa Rica- Cuba group opener at 6 pm.

The competition’s 25 matches are divided into two venues, the other being the Estadio Sergio Leon Chavez in Irapuato.

Group B is consisted Honduras, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Canada, while Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, and Haiti will play out of Group C.

After single round-robin play, the top two finishers and the two best third places will qualify for the knockout stage.

The knockout stage will include eight teams, starting with the quarter-finals on July 30 and 31, then the semi-finals on August 2, and the final, where the new regional champion will be crowned, on Sunday, August 4.

The four semi-finalists will also guarantee their participation in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Squad: Joshua Grant (Red Bulls), Alex James (Real Mona), Taywane Lynch (Mount Pleasant FC), Nashordo Gibbs (Real Mona), Javin Williams (Reno FC), Nyle Waugh (FC Dallas), Shadeko Wizzard (Arnette Gardens FC), Brian Burkett (Dunbeholden FC), Jloyd Smith (Cavalier SC), Christopher Ainsworth (Cavalier SC), Avery Grange (The Bourugh FC), Adrian Reid (Cavalier SC), Ashton Gordon (Atlanta United), Alexander Bicknell (Leixoes SC), Fabian Reynolds (Wolves FC), Dunsting Cohen (Vere United FC), Orane Watson (Capleton Maroon), Rashaun Small (Portmore United), Makai Welch (Leyton Orient), Nahshon Bolt (Arnette Gardens FC), and Romain Blake (Chicago Fire FC).

Staff: Jerome Waite (head coach), Rodolph Austin (assistant coach), Clive Wedderburn (goalkeeper coach), Tyrese Palmer (kit man), Karen Clarke-Lumsden (manager), Dr O’shane Grant (team doctor), and Wendell Downswell (technical director/trainer).