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 1998)
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	15 (first in 1963)
Best result	Runners-up (2015, 2017)
CONCACAF Nations League Finals
Appearances	1
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 CFU 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, also known as the "Reggae Boyz", plays for Jamaica in international men's soccer games. Their first match was against Haiti in 1925. The team is managed by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). This group is part of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and FIFA. Jamaica's home games are played at Independence Park.

The Reggae Boyz have 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 also plays in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, reaching the finals twice. They were runners-up to Mexico in 2015 and the United States in 2017. Jamaica was also invited to play in the Copa América in 2015, 2016, and 2024.

History of the Reggae Boyz

Early Days of Jamaican Football (1925–1962)

Jamaica's first football club, the Kingston Cricket Club, started in 1893. In 1910, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) was formed to manage all games. In 1925, Jamaica played Haiti in three matches, winning all of them. The scores were 1–0, 2–1, and 3–0. In 1926, Jamaica hosted Haiti and won 6–0. Jamaica played in its first international tournament in 1930 at the 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 from other countries.

In 1952, a Caribbean All-Star team was created with players from different islands. This team played four matches against Jamaica. Jamaica won two games, and the All-Stars won two.

Becoming Independent and Joining FIFA (1962–1989)

In 1962, the same year Jamaica became an independent country, the JFF joined FIFA. This meant Jamaica could now compete in bigger international tournaments. At the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games, held in Jamaica, the national team finished fourth.

In 1965, Jamaica tried to qualify for the 1966 FIFA World Cup. They did well in the first round but lost to Costa Rica and Mexico in the final round. This meant they did not qualify for the World Cup. In the late 1960s and 1970s, Jamaica faced challenges. Many players retired or moved away. In 1973, the team even had to pull out of a tournament after some players misbehaved.

For the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, Jamaica did not try to qualify. This was because they did not have enough money and their team was not ready. They returned to international games in 1989. They tried to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup but were eliminated by the United States.

World Cup Dream Comes True (1990–2000)

In 1991, Jamaica won the 1991 Caribbean Cup by beating Trinidad and Tobago. This win helped them qualify for the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the Gold Cup, Jamaica did not win any games.

In 1993, Jamaica reached the final of the 1993 Caribbean Cup but lost. Later that year, they played in the 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They lost to the US but then won their first Gold Cup game against Honduras. They made it to the semi-finals but lost to Mexico.

To help them qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica hired Brazilian coach René Simões. Simões 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, because reggae music started in Jamaica.

Jamaica played very well in the World Cup qualifiers. They won three important games 1–0 against El Salvador, Canada, and Costa Rica. Deon Burton scored the winning goals in two of these matches. After a 0–0 draw with Mexico, Jamaica officially qualified for their first-ever World Cup! The next day was a national holiday in Jamaica.

In 1998, Jamaica also did well in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They tied with Brazil and beat Guatemala and El Salvador to reach the semi-finals. They lost to Mexico in overtime. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica finished third in their group. They had a great 2–1 win against Japan, with Theodore Whitmore scoring both goals. This made Jamaica the second Caribbean team to win a World Cup game.

The Reggae Boyz continued their success by winning the 1998 Caribbean Cup. In 1999, they had their biggest loss, 9–0 against Costa Rica.

Ups and Downs (2001–2009)

Jamaica tried to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup but did not make it to the final round. They also missed out on the 2002 Gold Cup. In 2003, they reached the quarter-finals of the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup but lost to Mexico.

For the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Jamaica beat Haiti. However, they finished third in their group and did not move on. In the 2005 Caribbean Cup, Jamaica had another huge 12–0 win against Saint Martin. They went on to win the tournament, earning their third title. At the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, they reached the quarter-finals.

From 2006 to 2007, the team struggled. They even failed to qualify for the 2007 Caribbean Cup. In the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Jamaica started slowly. But with coach Theodore Whitmore, they won three of their last games. They won the 2008 Caribbean Cup, with Luton Shelton scoring two goals in the final. This win qualified them for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Reaching Finals (2010–2019)

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

In 2010, Jamaica won its fifth Caribbean Cup 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 all their group games. They were then eliminated by the US in the quarter-finals.

Jamaica started well in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, even beating the United States for the first time. However, they did not win any games in the final round and were eliminated. Coach Whitmore resigned and Winfried Schäfer took over.

After winning the 2014 Caribbean Cup, Jamaica was invited to the 2015 Copa América in Chile. They were in a tough group with Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. Jamaica lost all three games 1–0. A few weeks later, in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Jamaica surprised many. They won their group and beat Haiti in the quarter-finals. In the semi-final, they defeated the US 2–1, reaching their first-ever Gold Cup final! They lost the final to Mexico 3–1.

Jamaica tried to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup but was eliminated in the fourth round. They also played in the Copa América Centenario in 2016 but lost all their games.

In 2017, Theodore Whitmore returned as coach. Jamaica reached the final of the 2017 Caribbean Cup but lost to Curaçao. In the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Jamaica upset Mexico 1–0 in the semi-finals. In the final, they lost to the US, finishing as runners-up again.

Recent Years (2020–Present)

In 2020, international football was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Jamaica reached the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals but lost to the United States. Later that year, Theodore Whitmore was replaced as coach.

In 2022, Heimir Hallgrímsson from Iceland became Jamaica's new coach. In November 2023, Jamaica qualified for the 2024 Copa América. They made a great comeback against Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals.

Home Stadium

Independence Park in 2011.

Before 1962, Jamaica played its games at Sabina Park. In 1962, the 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 games at other stadiums in Jamaica. These include Jarrett Park, Trelawny Stadium, and the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Team Kits

The Jamaica national team has used different companies to make their official uniforms. Their first supplier was Lanzera in 1995. Then came Kappa, Uhlsport, and Romai Sports.

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

Current Team Players

Here are the players who were chosen for the CONCACAF Nations League matches in November 2024.

The numbers for games played (caps) and goals scored are correct as of October 14, 2024, after the game against  Honduras.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Andre Blake (captain)	(1990-11-21) 21 November 1990 (age 34)	79	0	Philadelphia Union
23	1GK	Jahmali Waite	(1998-12-24) 24 December 1998 (age 26)	13	0	El Paso Locomotive
13	1GK	Shaquan Davis	(2000-11-11) 11 November 2000 (age 24)	1	0	Mount Pleasant FA
17	2DF	Damion Lowe	(1993-05-05) 5 May 1993 (age 32)	69	3	Al-Okhdood
22	2DF	Greg Leigh	(1994-09-30) 30 September 1994 (age 30)	21	1	Oxford United
2	2DF	Dexter Lembikisa	(2003-11-04) 4 November 2003 (age 21)	21	1	Yverdon-Sport
5	2DF	Richard King	(2001-11-27) 27 November 2001 (age 23)	20	0	Cavalier
6	2DF	Di'Shon Bernard	(2000-10-14) 14 October 2000 (age 24)	18	1	Sheffield Wednesday
	2DF	Ethan Pinnock	(1993-05-29) 29 May 1993 (age 32)	17	0	Brentford
12	2DF	Tayvon Gray	(2002-08-19) 19 August 2002 (age 22)	7	0	New York City FC
4	2DF	Amari'i Bell	(1994-05-05) 5 May 1994 (age 31)	19	1	Luton Town
15	3MF	Joel Latibeaudiere	(2000-01-06) 6 January 2000 (age 25)	21	0	Coventry City
18	3MF	Tyreek Magee	(2000-10-09) 9 October 2000 (age 24)	12	0	Colorado Springs Switchbacks
8	3MF	Kasey Palmer	(1996-11-09) 9 November 1996 (age 28)	12	0	Hull City
16	3MF	Karoy Anderson	(2004-10-01) 1 October 2004 (age 20)	11	0	Charlton Athletic
9	3MF	Ravel Morrison	(1993-02-02) 2 February 1993 (age 32)	18	2	Precision Football
14	3MF	Isaac Hayden	(1995-03-22) 22 March 1995 (age 30)	1	0	Newcastle United
11	4FW	Shamar Nicholson	(1997-02-16) 16 February 1997 (age 28)	53	19	FC Spartak Moscow
21	4FW	Romario Williams	(1994-08-15) 15 August 1994 (age 30)	22	4	Indy Eleven
7	4FW	Leon Bailey	(1997-08-09) 9 August 1997 (age 27)	30	5	Aston Villa
10	4FW	Demarai Gray	(1996-06-28) 28 June 1996 (age 29)	18	7	Al-Ettifaq
20	4FW	Renaldo Cephas	(1999-10-08) 8 October 1999 (age 25)	10	0	Ankaragücü
3	4FW	Khori Bennett	(1997-12-13) 13 December 1997 (age 27)	0	0	Las Vegas Lights FC

Player Records

Players in bold are still playing for 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.

Tournament History

FIFA World Cup

Jamaica's only time at the FIFA World Cup was in 1998. Their first game was a 3–1 loss to Croatia. Robbie Earle scored Jamaica's goal. In their second game, they lost 5–0 to Argentina, which meant they were out of the tournament.

In their last match, Theodore Whitmore scored two goals. This helped Jamaica win 2–1 against Japan. It was Jamaica's first-ever World Cup win! They became the second team from the Caribbean to win a World Cup game.

CONCACAF Gold Cup

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

In 1993, Jamaica finished in third place. In 1998, they reached the fourth place. They made it to the final twice, finishing as runners-up in 2015 and 2017. In 2023, they reached the semi-finals again, finishing in third place.

CONCACAF Nations League

The CONCACAF Nations League is a newer tournament. Jamaica has done well in it.

In the 2023–24 season, Jamaica finished in third place in the finals. This was a great achievement for the team.

Copa América

Jamaica was invited to the Copa América for the first time in 2015. This tournament is for South American teams. Jamaica played against Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. They lost all three games.

They were invited again in 2016 and 2024. In both tournaments, they were eliminated in the group stage without earning any points.

Caribbean Cup

The Caribbean Cup was a regional tournament for teams in the Caribbean. Jamaica has been very successful in this competition.

Jamaica has won the Caribbean Cup a total of six times. They won in 1991, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2014. They also finished as runners-up three times and in third place twice.

Head-to-Head Records

As of November 14, 2024, the Jamaica national team has played 538 matches. They have won 238 games, drawn 135, and lost 232. They have scored 794 goals and let in 790 goals.

Jamaica's biggest win was by twelve goals. This happened twice:

• 12–0 against the British Virgin Islands in 1994.
• 12–0 against Saint Martin in 2004.

The team's longest winning streak is seven wins in a row. They also had an unbeaten run of 22 official matches.

Honours and Achievements

Major Competitions

Continental (North, Central America, Caribbean)

• CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 2015, 2017
  • Third place (1): 1993
• CONCACAF Nations League
  • Third place (1): 2023–24

Regional Competitions

• Caribbean Cup
  • Champions (6): 1991, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2014
  • Runners-up (3): 1992, 1993, 2017
  • Third place (2): 1997, 1999

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Jamaica para niños

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