Jamaica’s head coach, Steve McClaren, has stepped down after the Reggae Boyz failed to secure an automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
McClaren announced his resignation on Tuesday night, shortly after Jamaica were held to a 0-0 draw by Curacao in Kingston. Jamaica needed a win at the National Stadium to progress, but Curacao held firm and advanced instead.
The British coach, who took charge of the team in July last year, said he made the decision after reviewing the team’s performance. In his statement at the post-match press conference, he said, “I have given everything I have to this job, to this role. Leading this team really has been one of the greatest honours of my career.”
He added, “Football is a results business and tonight we’ve fallen short of our goal, which was to qualify from this group. It is the responsibility of the leader to step forward, take accountability and make decisions in the best interest of the team.”
McClaren said the choice to leave came after “deep reflection and an honest assessment of where we are and where we need to go,” noting that stepping down was necessary for the team to move forward.
This marks another painful qualification miss for the 64-year-old coach, who also failed to take England to the 2008 European Championship during his time in charge.
Jamaica will now need a new manager ahead of next year’s Inter-Confederation play-offs. Teams expected in the play-offs include Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, New Caledonia, Bolivia and Suriname.
McClaren watched Tuesday’s match from the sidelines at Kingston’s National Stadium, where Jamaica dominated possession but failed to score. Curacao’s result sealed their place in the 2026 World Cup, leaving Jamaican fans heartbroken.
The Jamaica Football Federation has not yet announced the next steps.
