Steve McClaren has resigned from his position as head coach after Curacao topped their group at the expense of Jamaica
After failing to automatically qualify for next summer’s World Cup, Jamaica and Steve McClaren have parted company. This follows their inability to overcome a Curaçao side who have become the smallest nation ever to reach football’s premier event.
The Reggae Boyz had been the favourites to reach the tournament being held across three countries in 2026 (US, Canada and Mexico) due to their team boasting players with Premier League and Championship quality; however, the former England manager could not find a way for his team to snatch the win which have seen them progress.
In an emotional pot-match press conference afterwards, the 64-year-old McClaren accepted that he needed to take the ultimate blame and announced his immediate intention to resign his position, even though Jamaica do still have a chance to make it through via the intercontinental play-offs, but McClaren wasn’t prepared to hang around.
For the tiny island of Curacao – who are led by legendary Dutch coach Dick Advocaat – and its population of 156,115 citizens, it was a fabulous end to their history-making campaign.
Another Caribbean country also completed an improbable qualification to the finals next year with Haiti – who last appeared in a World Cup finals tournament way back in 1974 – pulling off a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua, and in a strange twist of fate the decisive win was secured in Curaçao, as that was where the Haitians had been forced to play their home qualifiers due to the ongoing unrest back home.
Drama right to the end
Curaçao joyfully clinched their qualification, but only after a quite remarkable finale to the game played at Kingston’s National Stadium.
The home side launched a ferocious onslaught at the dogged opponents, knowing that just one goal would give them the World Cup place they craved. The Jamaicans hit the woodwork an incredible three times in the second half, and then in an amazing stoppage-time incident, Salvadoran referee Iván Barton pointed to the spot after a challenge in the box was deemed illegal.
The Curaçao’s players protested furiously, while the home crowd and players steadied themselves for a last minute chance of glory. In extraordinary drama, the decision was reviewed by the video assistant referee and then dramatically overturned and there was no time left for any further action, and left Curaçao not only as first-time qualifiers, but also new record holders. The previous smallest country to qualify for the tournament were Iceland in 2018, with a population of around 350,000, so they more than halved that statistic.
Perfect opportunity
With the three host nations for next year also being the Concacaf giants, this was seen as a golden opportunity for Jamaica to secure their spot at only their second World Cup after their one and only appearance at France ’98, where they finished third in their group and failed to advance to the knockout stages.
Not achieving that apparently easier goal meant that McClaren was crestfallen and afterwards he said: “It is the responsibility of the leader to step forward, take accountability and make decisions in the best interests of the team and after deep reflection and an honest assessment of where we are and where we need to go, I have decided to step down.”
Fallen short
The ex-England chief who had been in charge since July 2024 added: “These 18 months have been hard, really hard. I have had to learn lessons very quickly and the experience of Concacaf football has been unique for me. Caribbean football is different to central American football, which is different to North American football.
“I carried the weight and pride of this job with the deepest respect and leading this team has been one of the greatest honours of my career; but football is a results business and tonight we have fallen short of our goal, which was to qualify from this group.”
Delight for “The Blue Wave”
Curacao’s assistant manager, Dean Gorre claimed McClaren had been in tears after the result, saying: “Steve was crying, it affected him that much.”
Nevertheless, that did not stop the celebrations for his side – nicknamed “The Blue Wave” – who secured their qualification without their 78-year-old coach Advocaat in attendance, as he was forced to return to the Netherlands due to family circumstances.
The draw meant they finished top of Group B with 12 points from six games, one point clear of Jamaica.
Tough outcome for Jamaica. Missing out on qualification always stings, but hopefully this sparks a strong reset for the team.