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Jamaica look to put lid on qualifying Reggae Boyz need draw against Honduras to seal Nations League quarter-final spot
October 05, 2026
Quarter-finalists in the Concacaf Nations League will be decided today. And although Jamaica are in a strong position to secure a spot from Group B, in League A, coach Rudolph Speid is not taking any chances and will be hunting all three points when they face Honduras at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, tonight at 9.
The Reggae Boyz are second in the group on six points, one behind leaders Suriname on seven. Guatemala are third in the standings on four, while Honduras, Martinique and El Salvador are all on three points. Each team has one game remaining.
After their 2-0 win over El Salvador on Friday, Speid insists the Reggae Boyz’s destiny is in their own hands. Only the top two teams will advance.
Javon East scored both goals for Jamaica in their last match, and he will be among the main prospects to score in the team led by long-time goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Seeded teams
Two other qualifiers will come from League A, Group A, while the top four seeded teams in Concacaf got a bye to the quarter-finals. They are Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Panama.
“Our math is a bit different. We could still lose and continue in the competition, and the other way is to get a draw, but the safest way is to get a victory,” he said.
“We understand all the permutations. We understand that Honduras is a good team. All the teams in our zone have been able to defeat each other at some point or another,” he explained. “So I think all the teams are even, and that is where we will have to start.”
Toothless
In their meeting in Kingston a week ago, Honduras, with 10 men from fairly early in the second half, held off a toothless Jamaican team for a 1-0 victory.
Speid says the Jamaican camp is well aware of the threat their opponents pose.
“They are a good team, dangerous team, and that is something that the Jamaican contingent will have to contend with in this game,” he said.
“They are very skilful, have very fast players, they are resolute and tenacious. Even when they were down to 10 men, they were able to hold us off and get a famous victory. So we are mindful and aware of their strengths,” he declared.
Without key players
The Reggae Boyz will be without some key players, through injury or suspension, such as Ronaldo Cephas, Rumarn Burrell and Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri.
Nevertheless, Speid is confident in the players they have at their disposal.
“Some of these players have injuries. So we allowed them to leave to treat their injuries (at their clubs), and some players (like) Cadamarteri are out on cards. So we have a depleted team now, but we are okay,” he insisted.
Last week, Honduras defeated the Reggae Boyz for the first time in 13 years and nine matches. Although the Reggae Boyz have won their last away games against Honduras, they have not beaten the Central American team in their last two meetings.
In the group’s other games today, Suriname travel to play against Guatemala, at 7 p.m., and Martinique host El Salvador at 5 p.m.
