Teenager Reid surprised, grateful for first call-up
Published:Sunday | October 5, 2025 | 12:18 AM
WHEN JAMAICAN youth international Seymour Reid received his first senior call-up to the Reggae Boyz squad for the upcoming Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers, he was left surprised and speechless.
Reid is no stranger to donning the black, green and gold of Jamaica, as the teenage striker competed in the Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championships in February of this year.
He led the way as one of Jamaica’s marquee players, scoring three goals and provided four assists in three games played.
However, he was left stunned as he had not expected to receive a call-up from Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren just eight months later.
“I was really surprised and, now, I’m really excited,” he said.
“As a youngster, it’s an amazing feeling to just see my name in the squad. With the coach, he really believes in me a lot and he had watched me play a little bit.
“My family is really happy and really excited for me. We’re really grateful at the moment at this first call-up. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Reid has been enjoying a meteoric rise in his professional career off the back of a prolific campaign in Major League Soccer (MLS) Next Pro league.
His 11 goals in 14 games for New York City FC’s (NYCFC) reserves earned him a call-up to the first team, and recently scored his first senior goal in a 3-1 win over Chicago Fire in September.
The striker said his experience so far with NYCFC has prepared him to handle the pressure that will come with international football.
“NYCFC built a pathway for me and now I’m training every day with the first team and getting some minutes,” he explained.
“It really helped me a lot getting up to the pace. These guys are top players and they have played in some big leagues. I feel like NYCFC has groomed me to that level where now I can keep up with the pace, I’m becoming a smarter player and making better decisions.
“I feel it has really helped me and, now going into Jamaica, I think it will really show how much I have grown,” he added.
Reid’s call-up also comes with high commendations from Reggae Boyz boss McClaren, who said he has been closely watching the young player since his time with the under-17 squad.
McClaren sad while Reid is expected to be a player for the programme’s future, he is excited to see what he can bring to the squad.
“One addition that we’ve kept our eye on for quite a while is Seymour Reid, who I first saw training with ‘Freddie’ Butler’s team in the under-17s a few months ago,” McClaren said of the player.
“I was impressed. I’ve watched him in [NYCFC] second team and now he’s in the first team. He’s getting appearances, coming on, scoring goals, and he’s very young. He’s not 18 yet, so he’s one for the future but we want to get him in and have a look at him.”
He added, “I really look forward to seeing Seymour training with us.”
Jamaica will face Curacao in an away fixture on October 10 at the Ergilio Hato Stadium before playing hosts to Bermuda at the National Stadium on October 14.
Jamaica currently sits atop Group B with six points, ahead of Curacao, four, Trinidad and Tobago, one, and Bermuda, rooted at the foot of the table without a point.