KINGSTON (JAMAICA) (ITALPRESS) – Steve McClaren has resigned as Jamaica’s head coach after failing to secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The Reggae Boyz needed to beat Curaçao in the final matchday of the Concacaf group stage, but Curaçao held them to a 0–0 draw, enough to finish top of the group and clinch a historic qualification.
Jamaica will now have to go through the intercontinental playoffs, but they will do so without McClaren, the former England manager, who took over in August 2024 from Heimir Hallgrimsson, now in charge of Ireland.
“Over the past 18 months I have given everything to this job, to this role,” McClaren said. “I have carried the weight and pride of this position with the utmost respect. Coaching this team has been one of the greatest honours of my career. But football is a results-driven industry, and we did not achieve our goal, which was to qualify through this group. It is up to me to take responsibility, and after deep reflection and an honest assessment of where we are and where we need to be, I have decided to resign.”
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
