Jamaica’s coach McClaren resigns after World Cup miss

Jamaica’s head coach Steve McClaren has stepped down after the national team failed to clinch automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

The Reggae Boyz needed a victory against Curacao in Kingston on Tuesday to seal their place, but a frustrating 0–0 draw ended their campaign and sent Curacao through instead.

Speaking immediately after the match, McClaren said he had put everything into the role since taking charge last July, but accepted that the team had fallen short of its objectives. He described coaching Jamaica as a major honour but said that accountability rests with the manager when results do not meet expectations.

After reviewing the situation, McClaren said he believed stepping aside was the right move for the team’s future direction.

His departure comes at a critical moment for Jamaica, who now need to appoint a new coach ahead of next year’s Inter-Confederation play-offs, a round that will involve Iraq, DR Congo, New Caledonia, Bolivia and Suriname.