Head coach Steve McClaren reaffirmed that he and his Reggae Boyz are fighting for the Jamaican people, as he believes 2026 World Cup qualification is within reach and is determined to help the country get there.

“It’s been totally different from anything I’ve done before,” McClaren declared, as he reflected on his first six months at the helm of Jamaica’s national team.

“What an experience. The people here have a great sense of humor and a great vibe. And the players have been fantastic," he said in a recent interview with FIFA.

McClaren, who left his post as Manchester United assistant coach last July, took the Reggae Boyz job with next year's FIFA World Cup as his main target. The 63-year-old believes his squad has “an unbelievable chance” of making it to the finals, as he pointed to the team’s quality, enthusiasm, and motivation—as well as a significant shift in the Concacaf landscape.

“With the US, Canada, and Mexico not involved, we believe we are one of the three or four best teams left in Concacaf. The World Cup is the target. It’s the greatest tournament in football. That’s what we’re going for, and we believe we can do it," McClaren explained.

Jamaica has made a strong start in the Concacaf preliminaries, taking maximum points from their opening two second-round games. Should they secure one of the confederation’s three direct World Cup tickets, it would mark the country’s first appearance on football’s biggest stage since France ‘98—a team still revered on the island today.

“It’s like the England 1966 side back home,” McClaren said, recognizing the historic weight of the moment.

The Englishman added that building a similar connection between his squad and the Jamaican public has been a top priority for 

“We’ve done a lot of research, talked to a lot of locals and members of that ‘98 team. We’ve got to embrace the Jamaican culture. We’ve got to go into the heart of Kingston. One of the best trips we’ve done so far as a group was to the Bob Marley Museum. We need to go into local schools, too, and engage with the kids there," McClaren shared.

“For me, my staff, and any of the UK-based players, we don’t want to be seen as foreigners coming over—we want the locals to know we’re fighting for the Jamaican people. The passion for football here is amazing. The fans are so proud, and they create an incredible atmosphere with the reggae music and the drums. We’ve got to get used to their culture, to join in with it, rather than think they will follow us," he added.

That cultural immersion has even shaped McClaren’s coaching style.

“It’s interesting because we (the coaching team) have high standards and are quite strict in terms of certain things. But you can tell that Jamaica’s strength lies a bit in their looseness and their culture. So we’ve had to adapt. We want to harness that love of life and love of playing free, while still maintaining structure," McClaren noted.

McClaren’s Jamaican adventure is the latest chapter in a storied coaching career that has seen him lead clubs to major trophies in England and the Netherlands, manage his native England, and assist Sir Alex Ferguson during Manchester United’s golden years. Yet, even as he nears his 64th birthday, his thirst for knowledge remains unquenched.

“What keeps me going is I’m a learner. I must learn something every day. I must take in information and be a problem solver. Before going back to Manchester United, I worked with FIFA for two years as a technical advisor. Jamaica was one of the 16 countries I was assigned to analyze—that’s where the link began," he said.

McClaren became acutely aware of the island’s potential during that period. Now, his task is to transform that potential into World Cup qualification. His players’ passion and commitment have only strengthened his resolve.

“Many of them travel a long, long way to come to our camps. Look at Demarai Gray—he has to take a 20-hour flight from Saudi Arabia. But he told me he just loves representing Jamaica and the atmosphere around the camp. That’s the strength of what we have here," McClaren revealed.

Still, McClaren knows the road ahead won’t be easy.

“Concacaf football is difficult. There are some damn good teams. But the base of our squad is strong. We just need one or two game-changers, special players that we know are out there, who want to commit to Jamaica," he said.

As for what it would mean to coach at the World Cup, McClaren’s response is filled with emotion.

“It would be unbelievable. To go into a different culture, one that is totally alien to myself, and take a nation to the World Cup… that would be right up there (in my list of achievements). The opportunity is there, and we’ll give everything we’ve got to do it," McClaren ended.