How Jamaica raided the Premier League to boost their 2026 World Cup prospects
It is 2022 and in their headquarters in Kingston, the Jamaica Football Federation have drawn up a list of English-born players who they believe will be key in helping the national team qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Some of the names on that list include: Everton forward Demarai Gray; Norwich City defender Max Aarons; Barnsley midfielder Jonathan Russell; Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden; Joel Latibeaudiere, formerly of Swansea City; Chelsea youngster Omari Hutchinson; Peterborough United forward Jonson Clarke-Harris and Brentford duo Rico Henry and Ivan Toney.
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JFF president Michael Ricketts — not to be confused with the one-cap England striker of the early 2000s with the same name who also qualified to play for the Caribbean nation — knew it was an audacious list, but he had every reason to be hopeful. Ethan Pinnock of Brentford, Amari’i Bell of Luton Town, Rangers forward Kemar Roofe, Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid, Jamal Lowe of QPR and Aris striker Andre Gray had already switched their international allegiances to Jamaica.
Ricketts and Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey played important roles in convincing Demarai Gray, Russell, Latibeaudiere, Hutchinson and Clarke-Harris to represent the national team. They outlined the key roles they would play ahead of the next World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The only time Jamaica have qualified for a World Cup was in 1998 when the Reggae Boyz finished third in a group also containing Argentina and eventual semi-finalists Croatia. The likes of Robbie Earle, Paul Hall, Deon Burton, Fitzroy Simpson, Marcus Gayle, Darryl Powell and Frank Sinclair were named in the squad. All of them were born in England.
But there is hope Jamaica’s luck could soon change. The forthcoming World Cup will include 48 teams for the first time and in the summer of 2022, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed that six CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) nations will qualify for the World Cup, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States automatically qualifying as hosts. Only four CONCACAF teams (Canada, Mexico, United States and Costa Rica) qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
“We must go to the World Cup in 2026. It will be in our region and it would be a travesty if we weren’t there,” said Ricketts. “The world is expecting Jamaica to be there. The moment we failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, we thought, ‘How best are we going to get things right?’. We started the process immediately of getting a coach that demands loyalty and commitment from everybody. That’s why we went for Heimir Hallgrimsson.”
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Hallgrimsson, who was manager of Iceland from 2013 to 2018, was appointed in September. The 56-year-old had only been at the helm for seven months when he outlined his long-term ambitions in a memorable press conference.
“There’s a lot of talented footballers and now we have to create a team that can work together as one,” said Hallgrimsson. “We are trying to improve and change a lot of things and it will take time. But given the quality of the players, not only can we reach the World Cup, but I think we can do good things in the World Cup. We are starting a journey and we are trying to find players who we want to have on this bus on the long journey to 2026.”
The recruitment drive of Premier League players has markedly improved the national team’s chances. The World Cup may be three years away, but Hallgrimsson’s side have shown their potential in this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.
With the likes of Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Bailey, Decordova-Reid, Bell, Adrian Mariappa and Latibeaudiere in the squad, Jamaica will face Mexico on Wednesday in the semi-finals having sealed victories against Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts & Nevis and Guatemala. Should they win, Jamaica will face either hosts USA or Panama in the final in Los Angeles this Sunday. Jamaica have never won the Gold Cup, having finished as runners-up in both 2015 and 2017 and fourth in 2019 before being eliminated in the quarter-finals in 2021.
After the win against Guatemala, the squad celebrated by dancing to the TeeJay track “Drift” in the changing room. It did not take long for Antonio to join in.
Post-match dressing room vibes 😂 #ItAFawudAYaad
— Stream (@Stream876) July 10, 2023
The 33-year-old, who has been capped 11 times, has registered one assist in four appearances at this year’s Gold Cup. In January 2021, Ricketts made the federation’s first official approach when he sent an email to Antonio’s camp to gauge whether he would be interested in switching allegiance from England. The West Ham United forward had been called up by England three times but failed to play a minute of senior international football.
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Damion Lowe, Jamaica’s vice-captain, played a key role in convincing Antonio that he would enjoy the camaraderie in the squad. The forward discussed whether he should switch allegiances with Bailey and the ex-Bayer Leverkusen winger’s father. Antonio also asked Charlton Athletic defender Michael Hector, a close friend, for his opinion. Hector, who has 35 Jamaica caps, was — unsurprisingly — hugely in favour of them teaming up at international level.
But, more importantly, Antonio wanted to leave a legacy in the country where both his parents were born. Having acquired his Jamaican passport in August 2021, Antonio made his debut against Panama in 2021. Since then, he has become a key player for the national team.
Ricketts has endured setbacks, with Toney and Aarons rejecting approaches to represent Jamaica. But in June, Ricketts’ persistence paid off when Demarai Gray switched international allegiance from England. The 27-year-old is eligible for the national team via his maternal grandparents, who are from Clarendon on the south side of the country.
Gray, who amassed 38 England caps from under-18 to under-21 level, received a call-up to the full squad from Gareth Southgate in 2018 but did not make an appearance.
“Jamaica has always been on my mind,” he told The Athletic. “Coming through as a youngster, I represented England from an early age up to the under-21s, but not getting a senior cap meant Jamaica was an opportunity for me. At the stage I’m at now, wanting a fresh challenge and with my family roots and culture, I think it’s perfect timing.
“I played with Leon (Bailey) at Leverkusen and he was on my case a bit, but it was already in the back of my mind anyway. It was interesting to speak to him having played there and hearing what he thinks and getting the manager’s thoughts. It wasn’t as much me being persuaded — it just felt right. Jamaica has a lot of talent. I hope that by making the step other players can consider it as well and we can become a massive team. I’m excited to see how far we can go. The manager spoke to me about the potential and the future plans and it did get me pumped up.”
Bell, who scored the winner against Guatemala, switched international allegiance in 2021. The 29-year-old was initially approached about being called up in June 2019, only to pull out because of injury. But since then he has earned 14 caps for the national team.
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“I’m eligible through both grandparents, on either side,” said Bell. “Both were born in Jamaica. They’re not here with us today, but they would have been over the moon, too. It’s just a very overwhelming experience. Growing up in England, everybody wants to play for England, but the older you get, definitely for myself anyway, you get more in touch with your roots and it just makes it a lot more appealing.”
The vibe after Guatemala's victory 🎉
.#ReggaeBoyz #GoldCup #ThisIsOurs #JFF_Football— Official J.F.F (@jff_football) July 10, 2023
There is a common theme of English-born players wanting to make their families proud. Latibeaudiere qualifies through his dad and mentions how appreciative he is of the opportunity. Dexter Lembikisa, of Wolverhampton Wanderers, qualifies through his mother and the 19-year-old right-back has been a regular for Jamaica throughout the Gold Cup.
“My mum’s side is from Jamaica and it’s always an honour to play for your country and I’ve enjoyed it,” said Lembikisa.
As with Lembikisa, there have been efforts to recruit other academy prospects. Goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke, 20, of Reading; Leicester City midfielder Brandon Cover, 19; and Delano McCoy-Splatt, 18, of Fulham, have also featured in Hallgrimsson’s set-up. Although Cover and McCoy-Splatt are yet to play for Leicester City and Fulham’s first team respectively, the duo have earned one cap for Jamaica.
“Fulham got in contact with me and said, ‘They (Jamaica) want you to come to play. How do you feel about that?’,” McCoy-Splatt told the Jamaica Observer. “I was just over the moon and wanted to go. Before I even came here, I spoke to him (Decordova-Reid) about what it’s like. He always gave me positive feedback so that made me want to come here even more.”
An example of Jamaica’s bright future is Dujuan Richards’ move to Chelsea from the Phoenix All Stars Academy. The 17-year-old striker, who also features in the Gold Cup squad, will officially join the west London side in 2024 after his 18th birthday. He has been capped four times by Jamaica and is highly regarded by coaches.
The likes of Antonio, Gray and others have helped power Jamaica’s success. The national team has a squad capable of not only winning the Gold Cup this month but also securing qualification for the World Cup.
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Through careful planning and persuasion, they are finally in a good position to achieve both objectives.
(Top photo: Bill Barrett/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
