Jamaica national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jamaica

Nickname(s)	The Reggae Boyz
Association	Jamaica Football Federation (JFF)
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation	CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach	Steve McClaren
Captain	Andre Blake
Most caps	Ian Goodison (128)
Top scorer	Luton Shelton (35)
Home stadium	Independence Park
FIFA code	JAM
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	54 (7 February 2019)
Highest	27 (August 1998)
Lowest	116 (October 2008)
Elo ranking
Current	64 4 (3 March 2019)
Highest	380 (9 February 1997)
Lowest	126 (29 April 1984)
First international
Haiti 1–2 Jamaica  (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 22 March 1925)
Biggest win
Jamaica 12–0 British Virgin Islands  (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; 4 March 1994)  Jamaica 12–0 Saint Martin  (Kingston, Jamaica; 24 November 2004)
Biggest defeat
Costa Rica 9–0 Jamaica  (San José, Costa Rica; 24 February 1999)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 1998)
Best result	Group stage (1998)
CONCACAF Championship / Gold Cup
Appearances	16 (first in 1963)
Best result	Runners-up (2015, 2017)
CONCACAF Nations League
Appearances	1 (first in 2024)
Best result	Third place (2024)
Copa América
Appearances	3 (first in 2015)
Best result	Group stage (2015, 2016, 2024)
Medal record CONCACAF Gold Cup Silver 2015 United States and Canada Team Silver 2017 United States Team Bronze 1993 Mexico and United States Team CONCACAF Nations League Bronze 2024 United States Team Caribbean Cup Gold 1991 Jamaica Team Gold 1998 Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica Team Gold 2005 Barbados Team Gold 2008 Jamaica Team Gold 2010 Martinique Team Gold 2014 Jamaica Team Silver 1992 Trinidad and Tobago Team Silver 1993 Jamaica Team Silver 2017 Martinique Team Bronze 1997 Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis Team Bronze 1999 Trinidad and Tobago Team

The Jamaica national football team, known as the "Reggae Boyz", plays for Jamaica in international soccer games. Their first match was against Haiti in 1925. The team is managed by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). The JFF joined FIFA in 1962 and CONCACAF in 1963. They are also part of the CFU. Jamaica plays its home games at Independence Park, which opened in 1962.

The Reggae Boyz played in the FIFA World Cup once, in 1998. They finished third in their group and did not move on. They have won the Caribbean Cup six times. Jamaica has also played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup thirteen times. They were runners-up twice, losing to Mexico in 2015 and the United States in 2017. They were also invited to the Copa América in 2015, 2016, and 2024. In all three tournaments, they were eliminated in the group stage.

History of Jamaican Football

Early Days (1893–1962)

Jamaica's first football club, the Kingston Cricket Club, started in 1893. In 1910, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) was created to manage all games. The first official game was on March 22, 1925, against Haiti. Jamaica won that game 2-1, and also won the next two matches. In 1926, Jamaica beat Haiti 6-0 at Sabina Park. Jamaica played in its first international tournament at the 1930 Central American Games in Cuba. They lost both games in their group.

The Jamaica team in 1936 playing against Trinidad and Tobago.

From 1925 to 1962, Jamaica often played against teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Cuba. They also played against famous clubs like the British Corinthians.

In 1952, a Caribbean All-Star team was formed with players from different islands. This team played four games against Jamaica. Jamaica won two of these matches.

After Independence (1962–1989)

In 1962, the year Jamaica became independent, the JFF joined FIFA. At the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games in Jamaica, the national team was coached by Jorge Penna from Brazil. Jamaica finished fourth, winning against Puerto Rico and Cuba. A year later, Jamaica played in the first CONCACAF Championship. They finished last in their group.

In 1965, Jamaica tried to qualify for the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. They won their first group but then faced tough teams like Costa Rica and Mexico. Jamaica lost badly to Mexico (8-0) and Costa Rica (7-0). They ended up with only one point and did not qualify. In 1967, Jamaica tried to qualify for the 1967 CONCACAF Championship but was eliminated.

In 1968, George Hamilton became the new coach. Jamaica tried to qualify for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Most of the players were young, as older players had retired or moved away. Jamaica finished last in their group with no points. They also struggled in later championships. In 1973, Jamaica had to pull out of a tournament after 17 players were suspended for bad behavior. In 1977, they tried to qualify for the 1978 FIFA World Cup but lost to Cuba.

Jamaica did not try to qualify for the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. This was because they did not have enough money or a strong enough team. The team returned to international games in 1989. They qualified for the 1989 CONCACAF Championship, which was part of the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. After beating Puerto Rico, Jamaica played the United States. They drew 0-0 at home but lost 5-1 in the US, so they were eliminated.

Caribbean Success and World Cup Debut (1990–2000)

In 1990, Carl Brown became the head coach. In 1991, Jamaica won the Caribbean Cup by beating Trinidad and Tobago 2-0. This win qualified them for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the Gold Cup, Jamaica finished last in their group.

After losing to Trinidad and Tobago in the 1992 Caribbean Cup final, Jamaica started qualifying for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. They beat Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago. However, they finished third in their next group and were eliminated.

In 1993, Jamaica was second in the Caribbean Cup. They lost to Martinique in the final. This qualified them for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. They lost to the US but then won their first Gold Cup game against Honduras. Jamaica reached the semi-finals but lost 6-1 to Mexico. In 1994, Jamaica had its biggest win ever, beating the British Virgin Islands 12-0. After this, they hired Brazilian coach René Simões to help them qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

In 1997, Simões became the head coach. He looked for players in England who had Jamaican family. Players like Paul Hall, Fitzroy Simpson, Deon Burton, and Robbie Earle joined the team. These British-born players were sometimes called 'UB40s', like the reggae band. After a slow start, Jamaica won three important games 1-0 against El Salvador, Canada, and Costa Rica. Deon Burton scored the winning goals in the last two. After a 0-0 draw with Mexico, Jamaica qualified for its first-ever World Cup! The next day was a national holiday in Jamaica.

In 1998, Jamaica played in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They finished first in a group with Brazil, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Goalkeeper Warren Barrett helped them draw 0-0 with Brazil. After winning against Guatemala and El Salvador, Jamaica reached the semi-finals. They lost to Mexico in overtime. In the third-place game, Jamaica lost 1-0 to Brazil, finishing fourth. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica finished third in their group. They won 2-1 against Japan, with Theodore Whitmore scoring both goals. This made Jamaica the second Caribbean team to win a World Cup game.

The next month, Jamaica won the 1998 Caribbean Cup by beating Trinidad and Tobago 2-1. In 1999, Jamaica had its biggest loss, 9-0 against Costa Rica. They were eliminated from the 1999 Caribbean Cup in the semi-finals. At the Gold Cup, Jamaica finished last in their group.

Challenges at the Continental Level (2001–2009)

In the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Jamaica reached the final round but finished fifth and did not qualify. They also missed the Gold Cup. Jamaica qualified for the 2003 Gold Cup and reached the quarter-finals, where they lost 5-0 to Mexico.

Jamaica started its 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying journey with a 4-1 win over Haiti. They reached the third round but finished third in their group, just missing the next round. Coach Sebastião Lazaroni was fired. In the 2005 Caribbean Cup, Jamaica tied its largest win record with a 12-0 victory over Saint Martin. They won the tournament, earning a spot at the Gold Cup. At the Gold Cup, Jamaica reached the quarter-finals but lost 3-1 to the US.

In 2006 and 2007, Jamaica continued to struggle. They failed to qualify for the 2007 Caribbean Cup. With coach Theodore Whitmore, Jamaica improved its world ranking. They won the 2008 Caribbean Cup, with Luton Shelton scoring two goals in the final against Grenada. This qualified them for the Gold Cup. At the Gold Cup, Jamaica won one game but was eliminated.

Reaching Continental Finals (2010–2019)

Jamaica won the 2010 Caribbean Cup, their fifth title. Coach Theodore Whitmore became the first person to win the Caribbean Cup as both a player and a coach. In the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Jamaica won its group but lost to the US in the quarter-finals.

Jamaica playing against the United States at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica had a historic 2-1 win over the United States at home. They qualified for the next round but then struggled. Coach Theodore Whitmore resigned and was replaced by German coach Winfried Schäfer. Jamaica finished last in their group and was eliminated.

After winning the 2014 Caribbean Cup, Jamaica was invited to the 2015 Copa América in Chile. They lost all three of their matches 1-0. A few weeks later, in the 2015 Gold Cup, Jamaica won its group. They beat Haiti in the quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1998. In the semi-final, Jamaica defeated the US 2-1, reaching their first-ever Gold Cup final. They lost the final 3-1 to Mexico.

In qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica beat Nicaragua to reach the fourth round. They started strong but then lost three games in a row, including a 2-0 loss to Panama, which eliminated them. Jamaica also played in the Copa América Centenario but lost all three games without scoring.

After Whitmore returned as coach, Jamaica reached the 2017 Caribbean Cup final but lost 2-1 to Curaçao. In the 2017 Gold Cup, Jamaica surprised Mexico with a 1-0 win in the semi-finals. In the final against the US, Jamaica tied the game but then lost 2-1 in the last minutes.

Recent Years (2020–Present)

In 2020, Jamaica played one friendly game before international football paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Jamaica reached the 2021 Gold Cup quarter-finals, losing 1-0 to the United States. On December 9, 2021, Theodore Whitmore was removed as head coach.

In September 2022, Heimir Hallgrímsson from Iceland became Jamaica's new coach.

On November 21, 2023, Jamaica qualified for the 2024 Copa América. They reached the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A semi-finals by beating Canada 3-2 in a comeback game. Jamaica played in the 2024 Copa América but was eliminated in the group stage.

Steve McClaren became the manager of the national football team of Jamaica in 2024.

In 2024, Steve McClaren became the manager of the national team. The team played several matches in the 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A, including draws against Cuba and Honduras, and wins against Honduras and Nicaragua. They also played in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage, winning against Guadeloupe but losing to Guatemala and Panama.

Home Stadium

Independence Park in 2011.

From 1926 to 1962, Jamaica played its games at Sabina Park. This stadium is also used for cricket. In 1962, the football team moved to Independence Park. This stadium was built for the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games. The first home game there was a 6-1 win over Puerto Rico. The stadium is often called The Office by the team.

The team has also played at other stadiums like Jarrett Park and Trelawny Stadium. They also used the Montego Bay Sports Complex for the 2014 Caribbean Cup.

Team Uniforms

The Jamaica national team has had four different companies make their official uniforms. The first was Lanzera in 1995, which later joined with Kappa. This deal ended after the 1998 World Cup. In 2000, the JFF signed a deal with German brand Uhlsport, which lasted until 2006. After another deal with Kappa from 2012 to 2014, the JFF signed a four-year deal with Romai Sports.

In 2021, Umbro made the uniforms. In 2022, Adidas signed a deal to become the new uniform provider for Jamaica starting in 2023.

Uniform Sponsors

Kit supplier	Period
Score	1993
Lanzera / Kappa	1995–1998
Uhlsport	2000–2006
Kappa	2008–2014
Romai Sports	2015–2018
Umbro	2018–2022
Adidas	2023–present

Team Records

Players in bold are still active with Jamaica.

Most Games Played

Ian Goodison has played the most games for Jamaica, with 128 appearances.

Top Goal Scorers

Luton Shelton is Jamaica's top scorer with 35 goals.

Team Achievements

FIFA World Cup

Jamaica has only played in the FIFA World Cup once, in 1998. They lost their first game 3-1 to Croatia. Robbie Earle scored Jamaica's goal. In their second match, they lost 5-0 to Argentina. This meant they were out of the tournament. In their final game, Theodore Whitmore scored two goals, helping Jamaica win 2-1 against Japan. This was Jamaica's first World Cup win.

CONCACAF Gold Cup

The CONCACAF Gold Cup is a big tournament for teams in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Jamaica has played in it many times.

They finished third in 1993. In 1998, they came in fourth place. Jamaica reached the final twice, in 2015 and 2017, but finished as runners-up both times. In 2023, they reached the semi-finals and finished third. In the 2025 Gold Cup, they were in the group stage.

CONCACAF Nations League

The CONCACAF Nations League is another important tournament. Jamaica finished third in the 2023–24 tournament.

Copa América

Jamaica was invited to play in the Copa América in 2015, 2016, and 2024. This tournament is mainly for South American teams. In all three appearances, Jamaica was eliminated in the group stage without earning any points.

Caribbean Cup

The Caribbean Cup was a major tournament for teams in the Caribbean. Jamaica has won this cup six times, showing their strength in the region. They won in 1991, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2014. They also finished as runners-up three times and third place twice.

Overall Record

As of July 24, 2025, the Jamaica national football team has played over 550 matches. They have won 244 games, drawn 138, and lost 235. They have scored 794 goals and let in 790 goals. Jamaica's biggest win was by twelve goals, which happened twice: 12-0 against the British Virgin Islands in 1994 and 12-0 against Saint Martin in 2004. Their longest winning streak is seven games, and they have gone 22 matches in a row without losing.

Honors and Awards

Continental Titles

• CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • Second Place (2): 2015, 2017
  • Third Place (1): 1993
• CONCACAF Nations League
  • Third Place (1): 2023–24

Regional Titles

• Caribbean Cup
  • Champions (6): 1991, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2014
  • Second Place (3): 1992, 1993, 2017
  • Third Place (2): 1997, 1999

Special Awards

• FIFA Best Mover of the Year (1): 1995
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Fair Play Trophy (1): 2015

Summary of Main Titles

Senior Competition				Total
CONCACAF Gold Cup	0	2	1	3
CONCACAF Nations League	0	0	1	1
Total	0	2	2	4

More About Jamaican Football

• National Premier League (Jamaica's top soccer league)
• Jamaica national under-20 football team
• Jamaica national under-17 football team
• Football in Jamaica

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Jamaica para niños