Jamaica Championship semi-finals to settle JPL promotion places

The two clubs moving up to the 2026-27 Jamaica Premier League will be confirmed this afternoon when the Jamaica Football Championship semi-final second legs are completed.

All four contenders remain level after last Saturday’s opening matches, with Reno FC drawing 0-0 against Tru-Juice and Humble Lion FC also ending scoreless against Sakka Club Brown’s Town. Saturday’s fixtures must produce winners, with extra time and penalty kicks to follow if the teams are still tied after 90 minutes.

The two successful finalists will take the places of Spanish Town Police FC and Harbour View FC, who dropped out of the JPL.

Reno FC, once national club champions, are trying to regain a spot in the country’s top league for the first time since being relegated at the end of the 2011-2012 season.

Humble Lion FC are also pushing for a quick comeback, having fallen from the JPL at the close of the 2024-25 campaign.

Tru-Juice, semi-finalists in 2022-23, have been beaten only once this season. They lead the league with 42 goals scored and have allowed 11.

They travel to face a Reno side that has repeatedly fallen short in efforts to return to the JPL, though this campaign has been their strongest in the championship for several years. Reno’s 21 goals are the fewest among the semi-finalists, but they have been difficult to break down, conceding 10 times, the same total as Humble Lion.

Reno’s defence should come under pressure from a Tru-Juice front line featuring Curtel Lawes and Daniel Roberts.

Humble Lion have made a JPL return their target and have supported that ambition by reaching the last four. They are expected to pose a stern challenge away to St Ann-based Sakka Club Brown’s Town.

Progressive FC and Holland PYC, meanwhile, have been demoted from the championship and will go back to Major League next season after finishing last in their respective zones.

Saturday’s games are Reno against Tru-Juice at Llandilo Complex and Sakka Club Brown’s Town against Humble Lion at Drax Hall. Both matches are scheduled to start at 3:00 pm.