The U20 Reggae Boyz will continue their quest for a spot in the 2027 FIFA Men’s U20 World Cup when they open their Concacaf U20 Men’s Championship campaign this week in Mexico.
The young Reggae Boyz are drawn in Group C of the championship and will face a tough task as they will compete against Honduras, Panama and Canada.
The competition is set to run from July 25 through to August 9.
Jamaica will open their campaign against Honduras on July 26 before facing Panama in their second game on July 29.
The Boyz will close out group action against Canada on August 1, with all three group games being played at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario BUAP in Puebla, Mexico.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals of the championship along with the next best two third-placed teams.
Based on their group performances, the quarterfinalists will be seeded from first to eighth, which will determine the competition’s bracket.
The four teams that advance to the semi-finals will earn a spot in the 2027 U20 World Cup which will be co-hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
ROUTE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Despite entering the competition as the second-lowest ranked team, the Boyz will be optimistic of securing their second appearance at a U20 World Cup.
The Boyz booked their spot at the Concacaf Championships following a perfect run at the Concacaf Qualifiers where they topped Group B.
Jamaica recorded five consecutive wins over Puerto Rico, Bonaire, Turks and Caicos Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, and the Cayman Islands; scoring 28 goals without conceding once.
Jahmarie Nolan, who led the team in scoring with five goals is also a member of the Jamaica U17 team that qualified for the World Cup. He is expected to once again lead the lines for Jamaica.
He will receive support from teammates Jamone Lyle, Giovanni Taylor and Jabarie Howell who also starred for Jamaica during the qualifiers.
Excelsior’s High former standout Kimarly Scott and Chapelton Maroon’s Sean Leighton will also be ones to watch to provide further goal threat.
The team has been strengthened with the inclusion of Che Gardener of Stockport County, Manchester United’s Dante Plunkett and Houston Dynamo’s Jahmani Bell.
Jamaica are looking for their first U20 World Cup appearance since their debut in 2001.
Syndicated from Jamaica Star · originally published .
