U20 Boyz learn route to World Cup

The U20 Reggae Boyz have learned their route to the 2026 FIFA U20 World Cup having been drawn in Group C of the Concacaf Men’s U20 Championship alongside Honduras, Panama and Canada.

The U20 Championship is set to be held in Mexico and run from July 24 to August 9 and serve as the qualification tournament for the 2027 U20 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Jamaica qualified for the Championship after a perfect run in the U20 Qualifiers where they topped Group B with five wins.

They also scored 28 goals along the way without conceding once.

The Jamaicans are expected to face a tough task in their quest for World Cup qualification as they  enter as the lowest ranked team in the group.

Honduras and Panama are ranked third and fourth in the competition and received a bye to the Championship.

Canada are ranked ninth and qualified for the Championship after they topped Group F in the qualifiers with a record of three wins and one loss.

Jamaica are hunting their second-ever appearance at the U20 World Cup following their debut in 2001.

They are also hoping to follow in the footsteps of the U17 team which had qualified for the FIFA Men’s U17 World Cup earlier this year.

Several members of the U17 qualifying team are also a part of the U20 squad, including U17 Reggae Boyz captain Jahmarie Nolan.

Jamaica will open their campaign on Sunday, July 16 against Honduras before taking on Panama in their second game on Wednesday, July 29.

The team will close out their group stage campaign against Canada on Saturday August 1.

All three games will be played at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario BUAP in Puebla, Mexico.

The top two teams from each group, as well as the next two best third-place teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

The four teams who advance to the semifinals will qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup, while the winner of the U20 Championship will qualify for the LA Olympic Games.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com