‘We know what we need to do’ - Reggae Girlz using Panama friendlies as preparations for World Cup Qualifiers
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Having qualified for back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019 and 2023, Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby Jr says the team knows what it will take to qualify for a third consecutive tournament.
The Reggae Girlz will face Panama in two international friendlies set for June 5 and June 8 in Panama City as preparation for the Concacaf W Championship.
The W Championship, which will be held in November, is the qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Jamaica have been drawn against Costa Rica in the W Championship, where a win would secure their spot in the World Cup.
Speaking ahead of the Panama friendlies, Busby said the players know the importance of the upcoming games as preparation for the World Cup qualifiers.
“We're just going through our processes. I mean, at the end of the day, we know what we need to do. We know who we need to play to qualify,” he explained.
“But it's all the things in between that we need to focus on for us to improve to get the desired outcome that we want.”
Busby said another objective of the Panama friendlies will be to build team cohesion and ensure the programme maintains a competitive player pool.
His squad selection includes several familiar faces but also introduces a new call-up in Canadian-based player Nikayla Small.
Small represented Canada throughout her youth career, including the 2022 FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup, but has accepted a call-up to the Jamaican senior team.
Busby said the games against Panama will prove a strong challenge to test the players’ level of competition.
“[We’re] reintegrating some players in to make sure that our pool is still continuing to be strong, which is good, because that's some players coming back in who weren't involved in April for various reasons,” Busby explained.
“So overall, just looking to make sure that we have two quality games against a very quality opposition.”
The team began its camp ahead of the friendlies, and Busby is pleased with what he has seen from his players in training.
“[We had] a very good training session this morning,” Busby said. “Enthusiastic group, obviously very pleased in the way they approached it, coming from all parts of the globe.”
He continued: “I just worked on some things. Above everything else, it's just obviously a good day to sort of stretch out the legs and get them moving from sitting on long flights.”
The Girlz have faced Panama several times over the past few years and hold a positive record against their Central American opponents.
Jamaica defeated Panama on penalties in the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship to secure their first-ever appearance at the 2019 World Cup.
Since then, Jamaica played Panama four more times, with Jamaica claiming two wins, one draw, and a loss.