CONCACAF has officially announced the format for the 2025 Gold Cup Preliminaries, set to take place in March 2025. The preliminaries will feature 14 teams competing in home-and-away matchups, with the winners of each matchup earning a coveted spot in the Group Stage of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

The format will pit the highest-ranked team against the lowest-ranked team based on the November 20, 2024, CONCACAF Rankings, ensuring competitive balance. This ranking-based approach has resulted in matchups ranging from regional powerhouses like Costa Rica and Jamaica to emerging teams such as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Belize.

The matchups are as follows: Costa Rica (1) will face Belize (14), Jamaica (2) will take on St Vincent and the Grenadines (13), Honduras (3) will go up against Bermuda (12), Guatemala (4) will play Guyana (11), Trinidad and Tobago (5) will battle Cuba (10), Martinique (6) will meet Suriname (9), and Nicaragua (7) will face Guadeloupe (8).

Ranked second in the preliminaries, Jamaica will take on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, ranked 13th, in a two-legged tie. The first leg will be played in Kingston, followed by the return leg in Saint Vincent. A victory in the series will secure Jamaica’s place in the 2025 Gold Cup Group Stage, where they will aim to continue their strong regional performances.

The preliminary round will determine the final seven teams to join the already-qualified nations in the Gold Cup Group Stage. The competition promises high-stakes action as teams vie for the opportunity to compete in one of CONCACAF’s most prestigious tournaments.

The full schedule for the 2025 Gold Cup Preliminaries will be released in the coming weeks, with fans across the region eagerly anticipating the matchups that will shape the tournament’s final lineup. Stay tuned for updates as the road to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup heats up!

Matchups for the 2025 Gold Cup Preliminaries
Costa Rica (1) vs Belize (14)
Jamaica (2) vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (13)
Honduras (3) vs Bermuda (12)
Guatemala (4) vs Guyana (11)
Trinidad and Tobago (5) vs Cuba (10)
Martinique (6) vs Suriname (9)
Nicaragua (7) vs Guadeloupe (8)

Cuba booked their spot in the Concacaf Gold Cup prelims after they turned the tables on St Kitts and Nevis in their Concacaf Nations League Play-In tie on Monday.

Needing to overturn a deficit from their 1-2 first-leg loss, Cuba did just that in commanding fashion as they blanked St Kitts and Nevis 4-0 in a lopsided return-leg encounter at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba.

After bossing possession for most of the first half, Cuba inevitably broke the deadlock when Onel Hernandez produced a decent solo run on his way to driving home a right-footer from the top of the penalty area to level the series on aggregate at that point.

But the hosts were far from done and doubled the lead on the stroke of the break as Yosel Piedra also converted from close range in the 45+3 to make it 2-0 at the break and 3-2 on aggregate.

With St Kitts and Nevis offering very little resistance on the resumption, Cuba extended their lead in the 50th courtesy of Luis Paradela’s close-range finish.

Maykel Reyes then converted an 87th-minute penalty to cap the win as Cuba continued their march towards making the cut for next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup. A win in the preliminary rounds would see them achieving that feat.

Saint Kitts and Nevis and Belize place one foot in the Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims as both secured 2-1 wins over Cuba and French Guiana, respectively, in the opening leg of their Concacaf Nations League Play-In on Thursday.

Romaine Sawyers (8th) and Andre Burley (48th) were the scorers for Saint Kitts and Nevis, while Luis Paradela (40th) pulled one back for Cuba at the SKNFA Technical Center in Basseterre.

Meanwhile, at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize through goals from Carlos Bernardez (67th) and Eugene Martinez (75th) also secured an advantage heading into return leg action on Tuesday. Thomas Torvic (90+3) got French Guiana’s goal.

The winning teams on aggregate will advance to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims.

Saint Kitts and Nevis vs. Cuba

Sawyers opened the scoring for Saint Kitts and Nevis with a right-footed strike inside the penalty area after latching on to a final pass from Omari Sterling-James.

However, Paradela pulled Cuba level with a tidy finish from Orlando Calvo’s perfectly weighted ball into the area.

Cuba’s celebrations were short-lived as Burley restored the “Sugar Boyz” lead when he expertly headed home from Sterling-James’ weighted freekick.

Cuba will host Saint Kitts and Nevis in the second leg on Monday at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba.

Belize vs. French Guiana

After playing out a goalless first half, Bernardez broke the deadlock for Belize from a penalty spot much to the delight of home crowd.

Martinez extended the lead when he applied the finishing touch to Jordy Polanco’s decent corner kick.

Down but not out, Torvic ensured French Guiana remained in striking distance as he headed home from Thomas Vancaeyezeele’s assist.

French Guiana and Belize will meet for the second leg on Tuesday at Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The Sugar Boyz, St. Kitts and Nevis' men’s national football team is back in training as they prepare for their Concacaf Nations League Playoff clash against Cuba. After a brief rest period following their matches against the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands, the team resumed training on Monday, November 4, at the National Bank Group of Companies Technical Center. Head Coach Austin “Dico” Huggins shared insights into the preparations underway as the team looks to advance toward a potential second qualification for the Concacaf Gold Cup.

“After we played against Cayman Islands and BVI, we had a brief rest period. So we're now beginning our training session from today,” Huggins explained.

Coach Huggins emphasized the significance of these playoff matches, noting the challenging task ahead. “It's going to be very hard here in training. We've got to make sure the guys are mentally prepared, physically prepared, knowing the task we have at hand. Cuba is a very good team, very professional team. So we're going to have to take them very seriously. And we are playing the first game at home, so that should be to our advantage,” he added.

He further outlined the rigorous training plan to ensure the team is ready for the intense match-up. “Our preparation will be very strenuous, very hard, very intense so that we could be better prepared for the task.”

With the first leg at home on November 14 at the NBGC Technical Center, Huggins reassured fans of an improved performance compared to their last outing against the Cayman Islands. “We're going to have a better showing, for sure. Like I said, we're playing against Cuba. The guys are up for the task,” he said.

The Sugar Boyz will then travel to Santiago de Cuba for the return leg on November 18 at the Antonio Maceo Stadium.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors gifted interim Head coach Derek King his first win in charge as they defeated Cuba 3-1 in a crucial Concacaf Nations League encounter at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Scarborough on Monday night.

The Soca Warriors, who entered their final Group B contest in danger of being relegated, literally saved their best for last with a dominant performance that saw them preserve their League A status. They

Trinidad and Tobago’s fourth place finish on five points, also secured them a spot in the preliminaries of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. Jamaica (eight points) and Honduras (seven points) took the quarterfinal spots as well as automatic berths into the Gold Cup, while Nicaragua placed third on seven points by virtue of an inferior goal difference.

Cuba (three points) and French Guiana (one point) have been relegated to League B for the next edition of the tournament.

Knowing what is at stake, Trinidad and Tobago, who let a two-goal lead slip away to Cuba on last, wasted little time to declare their intentions. They broke the deadlock in the 13th minute thanks to Dantaye Gilbert, who fired home from close range.

Joevin Jones repaid King’s confidence in him on return to the programme, as he doubled the Soca Warriors lead with a tidy right-footed finish in the 38th minute. Interestingly, that goal took his tally to five to extend his lead as the Twin Island Republic’s all-time top scorer in the Nations League.

Andre Rampersad and Nathaniel James had grand opportunities to push Trinidad and Tobago further ahead, but both were denied by Cuba’s custodian Raiko Arozarena two minutes apart in the 41st and 43rd minutes, respectively.

Cuba threatened to make things interesting after the interval as Yasnier Matos pulled one back in the 62nd minute.

However, Real Gil ensured nothing of the sort transpired when he restored the Soca Warriors’ two-goal cushion with a decent solo effort in the 65th.

Cuba’s problems and, by extension, their chances of avoiding relegation were compounded when Karel Perez Mendoza was shown a red card in the 70th. From there, Trinidad and Tobago did what was required to see off the remaining minutes.

Cuba came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw with Trinidad and Tobago in Group B CONCACAF Nations League action on Thursday at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

Sheldon Bateau opened the scoring in the 8’ to give Trinidad and Tobago the lead with a header at the far post. Triston Hodge delivered the cross from the left side of the pitch. 

Dairon Reyes came close to equalizing for Cuba in the 12’ with an attempt from outside the box that hit the woodwork.

A long-range right-footed drive from Maykel Reyes tied the match for the hosts in the 64’. 

The Soca Warriors reclaimed the lead in the 70’ through a powerful left-footed strike to the far post from Joevin Jones from the edge of the box. 

With the goal Jones took his tally to four and is Trinidad and Tobago’s all-time top scorer in the CNL.

Aniel Casanova equalized from close range inside the penalty box in the 75’ to secure the point for Cuba.

Cuba and T&T are fourth and fifth in the group with three and two points, respectively, and will meet again on Monday, this time at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Trinidad & Tobago.

With momentum by no means in their favour, Trinidad and Tobago’s interim Head coach Derek King and captain Aubrey David are optimistic that the Soca Warriors might have saved their best for last as they face a must-win situation against Cuba in their upcoming Concacaf Nations League encounters.

Rooted at the foot of Group B in League A with a point, the Soca Warriors will have to take Cuba’s scalp in hostile territory on Thursday and again in the Twin Island Republic on Monday to not only improve their chances of progressing to the quarterfinals, but more importantly, avoid relegation to League B.

Jamaica and Nicaragua are set for a top-of-the-table clash as both head the standings on four points each, with Honduras (three points) and Cuba (two points) in close proximity. French Guiana, also on a point, round out the group.

After suffering a 0-4 loss away to Honduras in their opening fixture, Trinidad and Tobago were expected to rebound at home against French Guiana. Instead, they were held to a goalless stalemate, and that has left them in their current predicament.

Still, King is hopeful that the addition of experienced midfielders Joevin Jones, Kevin Molino, and others will turn their fortunes and prove rewarding where securing six crucial points is concerned. 

“The guys are fully aware of the task at hand; we had discussions, and we all know that we need six points. But let us focus on this very important game first. We have to go out there and give it our best shot and get three points to go back home with,” King said in an interview with TTFA Media from the team’s base in Cuba.

“We had a locally-based team training for two and a half weeks, so we decided that we would go with some of the locally-based players and add some foreign-based players who were not with the team before. I think the guys we added would bring some kind of experience to the unit we have at this point. 

“They are senior men to the team. They have played overseas as well, professional players. So, I think it's good to add their knowledge with this bunch. They will add some quality to the team as well, so we must go out there and give it our best,” he added.

Meanwhile, David, who is charged with marshalling the Soca Warriors defensive line, is mindful that Cuba will also fancy their chances of progressing and, as such, are not going to be a walkover.

“Cuba has a lot of foreign players; they have players who play in Costa Rica, in Guatemala, and the USA as well. Basically, they have a young team, but they’re willing to fight. They’re hungry and want to prove themselves because they’re at home,” David assessed.

“So it’s just for us to be together and execute our game plan so that we can leave here with three points.

“We have a lot of young players as well, and some with quality. I think they stepped up in the last Nations League; we saw a lot of them jumping onto the international scene and making a big impact, so it’s just for them to continue on that momentum,” he noted.

Trinidad and Tobago’s interim Head coach Derek King will be without striker Levi Garcia but remains optimistic that his team will improve significantly in the goal scoring department in their crucial Concacaf Nations League fixtures against Cuba on October 10 and 14.

King, who was sweating over the fitness of Garcia, inevitably had to look past the AEK Athens striker. Garcia, who just returned from injury, was excused from international duty as requested by his club.

Still, King will have to make do with those available to him as the Soca Warriors face a must-win situation in both games to not only keep their quarterfinal ambitions alive but, more importantly, avoid relegation from League A.

They are currently at the foot of Group B with a point as Jamaica (four points) and Nicaragua (four points) occupy the top two positions. Honduras (three points), Cuba (two points), and French Guiana (one point) complete the standings.

“Levi has an injury at this point. We need six points, and so we are trying to get our best players on the park on the day,” King declared.

King’s final squad, which was named on Saturday, sees the return of former captain Kevin Molino and Joevin Jones, who both last represented the Twin Island Republic at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. Toronto FC’s forward Tyrese Spicer has also been included in the squad, which departs for Cuba on Sunday.

After the October 10 fixture, both teams will fly back to Trinidad and Tobago for their final group fixture on October 14 to determine their fates in League A.

King expects Cuba to prove a tough opponent in both games.

“Cuba played slightly different in two matches. Away from home against Jamaica, they play with a back five. At home, they play with a back four. I think, they will be coming as well for three points, so we have to defend well, and, once we create our chances, we have to score our chances,” the caretaker coach shared.

King also explained the reason behind bringing former Inter Miami midfielder Jones, 33, and previously retired Molino, 34, into camp.

“With his [Molino’s] experience, a guy who played over 50 games for the country, played MLS (Major League Soccer) and stuff, I think sometimes there needs to be experience around the team.”

“I had a conversation with Molino; he’s been working hard, and so far he’s looking good. We’ll see how the final squad goes,” King said ahead of the final squad announcement.

“He [Jones] was not a hundred percent, but I think he did well. He knows he has to work on his fitness, and I think Joevin could bring a level of experience along with the younger guys that we have as well,” the tactician noted.

T&T Squad: Denzil Smith, Christopher Biggette, Adrian Foncette, Justin Garcia, Sheldon Bateau, Aubrey David, Alvin Jones, Tristan Hodge, Shannon Gomez, Ross Russell Jr, Noah Powder, Kevin Molino, Dantaye Gilbert, John Paul Rochford, Isiah Lee, Andre Ramparsard, Joevin Jones, Michel Poon Angeron, Kevon Woodley, Tyrese Spicer, Real Gil, Nathaniel James, Ryan Telfer

Trinidad and Tobago’s interim head coach Derek King and captain Aubrey David were left ruing the Soca Warriors’s sub-par performances in the September window, which has their Concacaf Nations League, League A survival in the balance.

The Soca Warriors, who lost their opening contest 0-4 away to Honduras, were heavily favoured to take three points off French Guiana in the following encounter at home, but they were instead held to a goalless stalemate.

This was much to the disappointment of King, David, and the many spectators that flocked the Dwight Yorke Stadium, as that result left the Twin Island Republic sitting at the foot of Group B on a point. Jamaica (four points), Nicaragua (four points), Honduras (three points), Cuba (two points), and French Guiana (one point) complete the group.

The Soca Warriors now face a must-win scenario in their next two fixtures against Cuba on October 10 and 14 to have a slim chance at making the top two for a quarterfinal berth, but more importantly to avoid relegation to League B.

Having made the quarterfinal in the previous edition of the Concacaf Nations League, David believes there is a need for individual and collective introspection as they need to raise the standard of their game.

"It was a sad result for us. It's a draw, but it feels like a loss for us because three points would have put us in a good position in the group once again. Unfortunately, we didn't get going. We need to reset again because we have two important games coming up,” David said as he reflected on the outcome of their contest against French Guiana.

"I think we as a team have to look at ourselves in the mirror and go back to the drawing board and look at the things that brought us success in the last campaign. I think we need to be humble and have that hunger to get good results,” he added.

Alvin Jones echoed similar sentiments.

"I think each and everyone has to look in the mirror and decide what they want—whether we want to play big football or we just want to compete. I think we have a lot of work to do mentally and physically. Each and every player,” he noted.

Meanwhile, King, who was appointed ahead of the tournament following the dismissal of Angus Eve, felt his team could have done more to secure the three points against French Guiana.

"I think the performance was a bit disappointing. We didn't get three points. We went out there, and we analysed the team. Our ball movement was a little slow, but we still created chances. I think to take us to the next level, we need to raise our intensity, and our ball speed has to be much better to compete with the top teams in Concacaf,” King declared.

Though it is left to be seen if he will still be on the sidelines for the Cuba encounters next month, King backed the players to make the necessary adjustments to secure the desired result.

"The players we selected, I thought it was the best mix for these two games...the important thing is to look ahead as a team. We saw some good things (against French Guiana), so we have to sit as a staff and analyse those two games and continue building from this,” King stated.

Jamaica claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Honduras on Tuesday night, propelling them to the top of Group B in League A of the 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League as the September match window concluded. The win secured Jamaica’s position as the group leader, while Nicaragua now sits in second place after their draw against Cuba.

In a tightly contested match at Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, the Reggae Boyz opened the scoring early in the second half when Honduras’ Denil Maldonado inadvertently scored an own goal in the 49th minute after Norman Campbell delivered a dangerous ball into the box.

However, Honduras quickly responded with an equalizer in the 50th minute, as David Ruiz finished from close range. Despite the quick turnaround, Jamaica continued to apply pressure, and in the 76th minute, Michael Antonio scored the match-winning goal from the penalty spot.

The victory puts Jamaica in first place with four points from two matches, giving them the edge in the group standings. Honduras, with one point, drops to third in the group, just one point off the top.

Elsewhere in the group, Cuba and Nicaragua played to a dramatic 1-1 draw at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba. After dominating much of the first half, Cuba took the lead in the 42nd minute through a penalty converted by Karel Espino. The hosts came close to extending their lead in stoppage time, but Karel Pérez’s strike narrowly missed the far post.

Nicaragua, however, found a late equalizer in the 90th+7 minute, with Widman Talavera salvaging a point for his team. The result keeps Nicaragua level with Jamaica on four points but in second place due to tiebreakers. Cuba, with two points from consecutive draws, sits in third place.

In the final Group B matchup of the evening, Trinidad and Tobago and French Guiana played to a scoreless draw at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago. Both teams created chances throughout the game, with Loïc Ball forcing a save from Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Denzil Smith in the 27th minute, while Daniel Phillips hit the woodwork with a long-range strike in the 39th minute for the hosts.

Despite the opportunities, neither team managed to score, with both goalkeepers recording clean sheets. The result gave French Guiana their second point of the campaign, while Trinidad and Tobago secured their first point.

As the September match window concluded, Jamaica leads Group B, with Nicaragua close behind in second place. Honduras, Cuba, French Guiana, and Trinidad and Tobago round out the group, as all teams look to improve their standings in the next round of matches.

The Jamaica Football Federation, in a release on Monday, expressed their gratitude to fans for their support in attendance at Jamaica’s opening game of the 2024/2025 season of the CONCACAF Nations League against Cuba at the National Stadium on Friday.

CONCACAF Officials reported an attendance of over 17,000 which is the highest attendance for a Reggae Boyz game at the National Stadium since 2019 when they played Honduras.

President of the Jamaica Football Federation Michael Ricketts gave some remarks on this feat.

“It was such a pleasant sight to see a sea of black, green and gold in the National Stadium on Friday night. You could definitely feel the energy in the support and every time Jamaica was in possession, the 12th man was behind the team. It certainly is a great stepping stone for future home games to come.”

The Reggae Boyz will next be in action on Tuesday September 10, 2024 against Honduras in Tegucigalpa.

The next home game for the Reggae Boyz will be Monday October 14, 2024 against Honduras at the National Stadium.

“Tickets for this game are slated to go on sale on Friday September 13, 2024. The Public are encouraged to buy their tickets as soon as possible. For the match against Cuba, the Grandstand tickets were sold out. Once again thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you all at our next home game,” the release concluded.

It was a bittersweet start to life for Jamaica's new head coach Steve McClaren, as his Reggae Boyz were held to a goalless stalemate by 10-man Cuba in their opening Concacaf Nations League Group B League A encounter at the National Stadium on Friday.

There was an air of optimism surrounding the team, with fans eager to see how the former England manager would transform the Boyz, who were coming off a period of transition.

While the Boyz delivered for the most part in terms of their dominance in all aspects of the game, they failed to please where it mattered most—in the final third—as they squandered numerous chances and, as such, had to settle for a share of the spoils.

In fact, of the 21 shots taken, only seven were on target, and that, plus the fact that they had a numerical advantage after Yunior Perez was sent for an early shower in the 44th minute, underscores the Boyz's woeful presentation in the final third.

The point puts the Boyz and Cuba second behind leaders Honduras, who were 4-0 winners over Trinidad and Tobago in their contest. Only the top two finishers will progress to the quarterfinals.

From the first whistle, Jamaica looked sharper and quicker. McClaren’s tactical adjustments were evident as the Boyz played with a higher intensity, pressing the Cubans into their own half. 

Kasey Palmer and Michail Antonio got off a couple warning shots in the early exchanges, and the good-sized turnout of spectators became even more expectant of at least a 3-0 victory. However, their desires were not met as they watched and roared as the Boyz strung together wave after wave of attacks, but the finishing touch eluded them.

In the 19th minute, Antonio's header from a long cross came back off the upright, while Jamal Lowe's effort on the rebound sailed wide.

The Boyz had another opportunity to break the deadlock at the half-hour mark, but Lowe was hesitant in getting the shot off from deep inside the 18-yard box, and the chance went begging. 

Cuba tried to play their game and also found pockets of openings, the best of which came in the 41st minute when poor defending by Dexter Lembikisa allowed a run through on defence forcing Andre Blake to leave his line to avert the danger. Though Blake seemingly took out the attacker in his attempt to clear the ball, Cuba's appeal for a penalty was waved off.

Minutes later Lowe's slick pass sent Antonio on the break, but the West Ham United man was taken out inside the arc by Yunior Perez, who saw a straight red card from Salvadoran referee Filiberto Martinez.

The resulting freekick, a well-taken one by Demarai Gray, was equally well saved by Cuba's custodian, Raiko Arozarena, who ensured the game remained goalless at the break.

The Jamaicans again came out lively on the resumption, but for all their possession, the Boyz couldn’t put one in the back of the net and were frustrated by the resolute Cuban defence led by goalkeeper Arozarena. 

In the 54th, Gray made space to get off a stinging right-footer from inside the six-yard box, but the effort was kept out by Arozarena.

Minutes later, the Cuban custodian was again called upon to deny Palmer's right-footed effort. 

McClaren introduced a few fresh legs in Shamar Nicholson, Kaheim Dixon, and others with hopes that one of those might have better fortunes in front of goal. Not so.

In fact, one of the best chances in the backend of the encounter fell in the 77th to Nicholson, who at goalmouth somehow hit a right-footer over the crossbar as the fans groaned in disbelief.

For the Reggae Boyz, it was a missed opportunity to start the campaign with a win. However, the potential under McClaren’s leadership was clear, and so optimism abounds that their next fixture away to Honduras on Tuesday will turn out to be a better result.

After a frustrating spell on the sidelines due to injury, Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake is back, fit, and eager to lead his team into a new era under recently appointed head coach Steve McClaren.

The talented goalkeeper, who has been a stalwart for both club and country, is ready to make his return for national duties as the Reggae Boyz prepare to open their Concacaf Nations League campaign against Cuba at the National Stadium on Friday.

Kickoff is 7:00pm.

Blake, who missed four to six weeks of action—including Jamaica’s failed Copa America campaign—after a meniscus surgery in May returned to training with his club Philadelphia Union in early July and has engaged a few games in his build up to once again sport the national colours.

He expressed his relief at being blessed with a clean bill of health and is ready to compete.

“It's always good to be back with the boys; the energy is good and the vibe is right at the camp. I've played eleven games since I've been back, quick succession games, so I guess you could say that was a test, and I've passed the test, so I'm good to go,” Blake declared.

“It was tough for me not being able to be with the boys, especially in the Copa, but I think they did well for the most part, but the game can be defined by small margins, and unfortunately, we fell short. But I think we're headed in the right direction, and Steve coming in and implementing these strategies got us excited, and we're looking forward to it, and I think there's great things to come,” he added.

Head coach Steve McClaren (left) and assistant Merron Gordon.

Blake’s return to the team couldn’t have come at a better time, with the Reggae Boyz entering a new chapter under McClaren, the experienced Englishman who recently took over from Heimir Hallgrimsson.

The 33-year-old shot stopper, who hails from Clarendon, admitted that the transition from Icelander Hallgrimsson to McClaren was bittersweet, as the players had developed a strong bond with the former coach. However, he quickly pointed out that the team is embracing the change and looking forward to McClaren’s leadership.

“It was a bittersweet moment, you know, because Heimir came in and he did a good job. You know, he definitely took us to another level, but things happened, and when we heard that Steve was coming, obviously, who didn't know him, had to do their research, and immediately we realized we were getting somebody with a great pedigree.

“So everybody was excited, as I said before, and we're all looking forward to it; now that we got a chance to meet and work together, you know, we're just excited and anticipating great things to come,” Blake shared.

McClaren, 63, a former England manager and Premier League coach, has wasted no time implementing his vision for the Reggae Boyz, which is to build on the platform established over the past two years in taking the team to a higher level.

According to Blake, the team has already bought into McClaren’s system, which emphasizes tactical discipline, hard work, and a winning mentality. Having responded positively to the new approach, Blake believes it will bring out the best in them.

“Yeah, since the first day (of camp), I said, everybody on the team is going to need to want the ball. Everybody in the team is going to have to be willing to run, defend together, and fight for each other. I have to agree with coach; if you want to be a really good team where you can go to the next level and compete and beat the US and Mexico, even the bigger teams, you have to be able to do these things and do them consistently,” Blake stated.

Reggae Boyz going through their paces.

“And as he said, if you're not willing to do it, you won't be in the room, and that's as simple as it gets. We have to set high standards and maintain them. So again, I'm really excited, and I'm just looking forward to it,” he noted.

Having placed third in the last Concacaf Nations League edition, Blake knows that a strong performance at home against Cuba is crucial to setting the tone for the tournament and, by extension, to once again establish themselves as serious contenders.

A win for the Boyz would put them in a good position to secure one of two spots from the group to the quarterfinals, as they seek to better that third-place finish.

But, beyond that, Blake highlighted the need to also continue progressing toward their ultimate goal—qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With McClaren at the helm and a talented group of players, he believes they are on the right path to achieve that feat.

“The goal is always to keep improving and building toward the World Cup,” Blake said.

“We have a great group of players, and now with Steve on board, we have the leadership to get us to the next level. We’re all focused on the same thing—winning games, growing as a team, and making Jamaica proud,” he ended.

As Jamaica's Reggae Boyz prepare to face Cuba in their opening League A match of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League, newly appointed head coach Steve McClaren is brimming with optimism.

The former England manager has wasted no time setting his sights on long-term goals for the Reggae Boyz team, with a clear vision to elevate the country to new heights in international football.

For McClaren, the journey begins with a solid start in the Nations League, and he has been vocal about his expectations for the team to secure a win in his debut match as head coach. However, while results matter, McClaren is equally focused on developing a cohesive, competitive unit that can compete on the world stage.

Kick off for Friday's Group B encounter is 7:00pm at the National Stadium. 

A win for the Boyz would put them in a good position to secure one of two spots from the group to the quarterfinals, as they seek to better their third-place finish from the last edition of the tournament. 

"The first expectation is like every game, we plan to win and we expect to win. So that's the first message to them and then go out and win. That's basically it," McClaren stated confidently.

He continued: "It is a test, but it is more a focus on the performance. It won't be perfect; I know that over 90 minutes there will be ups and downs, good spells and bad spells, but I want to see just some of the things that we've worked on to know that the players are taking that on board and the team is developing in that, but also keeping the structure that they've had for the last two years and just help them develop from that. 

"Because I think if you want to compete, if you want to stay number one in the Caribbean, and you want to get in the top three of the Concacaf rankings, then you have to develop your game. We've worked with the players; we've talked with the players in terms of how we develop. So tomorrow is the first step and it's a big step, one in which we need to find a way to win but also show signs of the performance which we've worked on."

McClaren's emphasis on growth and development has resonated throughout the camp, where players have embraced his forward-thinking approach. The Englishman stressed that, while talent is crucial, the mindset and application of each player will also be integral under his tenure.

"We've introduced one or two small things—principles, non-negotiables—that we must have in a game, and it's not going to be easy. It's not going to happen straight away. We're going to have spells where maybe we try to build up, but we make mistakes, but we want the players to play; we want them to be able to deal with the ball and control the game in possession. So not just have a transition game, but to try and have some control, which is in possession, and also control the game out of possession. Once you're in good shape and maintain a good formation, you'll be hard to beat," McClaren noted.

"This is what I said to the squad, football is not about eleven players, it's about the starters and the finishers, and the finishers have a more important job than the starters because they have to finish the game. So subs are important. So in a situation where you're winning a game or you're losing a game, it's important that the squad, the players on the bench, also impact the game when they get a chance to, and that's also what I'm looking for. The sign of a good team is to stay in the game, finish the game, and score a winning goal, but also ensure we don't lose the game," the tactician reasoned.

"Everybody must be able to deal with the ball and take the ball in modern-day football, and if you want to go higher, you have to have players who can deal with that to get out of tight areas, pass through the lines, change play, switch play, and are comfortable on the ball. That's one thing. We attack with eleven; we defend with eleven. No more is the one where we leave the nine up front...he doesn't have to work or the eleven can cheat. Everybody has to work together in terms of that and I think the key thing is consistency. If we get consistency in those areas, then you get results on a more level basis. But as I said, it's a process," he added.

Since taking the reins, McClaren has beamed about the team's culture, lauding the camaraderie and spirit that exists among the players. He believes that this unity is key to Jamaica’s success and sees it as one of the team's greatest assets.

"I like the spirit. I like the energy. I like them smiling. They enjoy being around each other, and they put everything into the training session—the intensity, the desire to work. That's what I've liked. We've tried to introduce one or two things, but I think we need to keep things simple. I think the style of play had success, and I want to keep that. 

"I want to keep the foundation, keep the basics, and keep what they've had for the last two years where they've developed. They finished third in the last Nation's League; we want to continue that, but also we want to improve it. So I'm here to help the players go to the next level in which we can stay number one in the Caribbean, but also get up the rankings in Concacaf and the ultimate goal, which is qualification for the 2026 World Cup," McClaren shared.

While exuding confidence amidst the sense of excitement around what lies ahead under his leadership, McClaren is also mindful of Cuba's growth and, as such, warned against complacency.

"Cuba will be a difficult team. They performed very well in the Under-20 Concacaf tournament; they're developing, and they've got quite a few resources now. So the game is developing, their coaching is developing, and you can see that from the team's shape and structure, they're organised, they're disciplined, and I think the key thing is the coach who was leading the Under-20 team has now been moved to the senior team.

"So we have to make sure that we take the game to Cuba, use our individual talent in the final third, create and score chances, but also to make sure we're very dangerous on the transition, that our defence is right, and we get the balance between attacking and defence and demanding that we win," he ended.

Head coach of the Jamaica Men’s National Football Team, commonly referred to as the “Reggae Boyz,” Steve McClaren, spoke glowingly of his squad’s energy and enthusiasm ahead of their 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League opener against Cuba at the National Stadium in Kingston on Friday.

McClaren, who was most recently part of Manchester United as a first team coach, was hired by Jamaica in July to replace Heimir Hallgrimsson, who has since taken up the role as manager of the Republic of Ireland.

The 63-year-old former Newcastle United and FC Twente coach will open his stint as manager of a Reggae Boyz unit who finished third in last season’s Nations League under Hallgrimsson, their best ever finish in the competition.

“Looking forward to it,” McClaren said in a pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“It’s been a long build-up since I first came over to Jamaica,” he added.

One thing that McClaren spoke glowingly of about his players is the energy and spirit he’s seen amongst the group ahead of Friday’s game, an important factor in any winning unit.

“It was nice to get into camp, meet the players, get on the grass and lose my voice from shouting too much. It’s been great. From the first day the players came in, it’s been great energy and spirit amongst them. They’ve shown that on the training field and we need to transfer what we’ve done this week onto the field tomorrow to get a result against Cuba,” he said.

Ahead of his first game in charge of the Reggae Boyz at home, McClaren, despite his 23 years of managerial experience, is feeling the nerves as is customary with anyone starting a new job in any profession.

“Always. I like that. It means you’re ready for the game. That’s what football is all about, doesn’t matter what level. When you play, you don’t quite know what’s going to happen. It’s football,” he said.

“We can control the controllable which we’ve tried to do. We just have to keep things simple. I’m going to concentrate tomorrow on the performance. If we get the performance from the players, normally you get the win,” he added.

When questioned about the style of coaching fans can expect to see from him going forward, apart from jokingly saying a “winning” coach, McClaren emphasized a focus on the basics and building on what has been done over the last two years.

“I’m quite a flexible, adaptable coach. I like the fundamentals. I like the basics. I like people knowing and doing their jobs, working hard, having a good attitude and being hard to beat. I think that’s the platform of all performances,” he said.

“If you’re easy to beat, too stretched and can’t defend, you don’t win football matches. That is what the team have developed over the last two years and I like that. It gives us a platform. We need to build from that platform now,” he added.