‘It’s in our hands’
Burton backs Reggae Boyz to make sophomore World Cup appearance
Published:Sunday | October 26, 2025 | 12:06 AMKaren Madden - Gleaner Writer
WITH DESTINY in their own hands as they look to qualify for only their second appearance at the FIFA World Cup, one alum from the historic 1998 tournament is backing Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz to advance to the FIFA showpiece to be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico next summer.
Jamaica are two games away from next year’s tournament and will face Trinidad and Tobago away on November 13 before hosting Curacao on November 18.
During the October window, the Jamaicans suffered a shock 0-2 defeat to Curacao in Willemstad before rebounding to see off Bermuda 4-0 at the National Stadium.
Having experienced the full range of emotions as he helped Jamaica advance to France in November 1997, after making his debut on September 7 of that year, former Jamaica International Deon Burton is brimming with confidence that the current national football team can do the job.
Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner from Trinidad and Tobago while on duty as Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz coach, Burton conceded that it won’t be an easy passage but was confident the team can do the job.
“Of course I’ve been watching, I’ve been staying up late, getting to work tired the next day from watching the matches, so I’ve been watching everything that’s been going on and the different teams we’ve had to come up against. The only thing I can summarise it with is, we’ve got two games and it’s in our hands. So if we took at the start of the campaign then we would have been happy. Remember where we are and it’s in our hands. “Obviously it’s gonna to be a tough game away in Trinidad, where I am now. There’s no secret behind that they’re gonna be putting up a strong defence against us but on our day, dem Boyz, the Reggae Boyz can beat anyone. So hopefully we can get something in Trinidad and then back at the Office, [the] final game against Curacao.”
After calling time on his playing career, Burton has been coaching for the past 10 years and one of the things he’s learned, is that it is important for a successful squad to trust each other.
“Don’t turn down an opportunity. These opportunities don’t come around very often and I was lucky enough to have a good squad with me and to have good teammates back in 1997 to be able to complete the dream.”
Jamaica defied the odds to advance to the 1998 world tournament buoyed by huge support as they faced the final hurdles.
It’s something Burton recalls fondly and he had one message for the fans.
“Let’s fill out the National Stadium against Curacao as we did back in ’97 and be that 12th man and hopefully they can get the job done. The fans, if you know how much you’ve helped us, I just want you to do that again and go out and support the Boyz to be that 12th man. Because that Stadium, full of fans, there’s no better feeling for a player and I can vouch for that. So hopefully everyone comes out, wearing their colours and support and it can be an amazing, amazing experience once again.”
Burton, who has a Jamaican father and English mother scored four goals in five games, which made him a fan favourite and earned him the nickname ‘Mr One a Day.’
He was named the National Sportsman of the Year in 1997 for his role in getting Jamaica to what is still their only appearance at the FIFA men’s World Cup.
With only the group winners automatically advancing to the World Cup, Jamaica sit at the top of Group B on nine points, one ahead of Curacao on eight, with Trinidad and Tobago third on four and out of contention Bermuda at the foot of the group standing without a point.