Speid confident Reggae Boyz are ready for Mexico test

Reggae Boyz interim head coach Rudolph Speid believes Jamaica are prepared for their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Mexico after benefiting from greater familiarity within the squad ahead of tomorrow's first-leg encounter.

Jamaica will face Mexico in the first leg of the tie tomorrow at the National Stadium, with kick-off set for 8:00 p.m.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Speid acknowledged the quality of their opponents but insisted his team would not be overly concerned with individual threats.

Speid said Jamaica must be prepared for the collective quality of the Mexican team rather than concentrating on a handful of star players.

The Reggae Boyz boss also believes their additional preparation time has helped Jamaica build on their recent work.

“We were able to just continue what we were doing [before] and add a few surprises, so I think the team is more prepared than they would have been in the qualifying rounds,” Speid said.

Despite several key absences, Speid said the situation has created opportunities for other players to join the national programme.

One such player is St Pauli’s Ricky-Jade Jones, who is eager to make his debut at the National Stadium.

The second leg of the tie will be played on Tuesday, November 17, at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals and qualifying for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup.