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Speid: Extended FIFA window brings challenges
October 21, 2026
The introduction of FIFA’s new three-week international window has changed the landscape of international football, and Jamaica’s interim head coach Rudolph Speid says coaches must now balance the benefits of longer camps with the added logistical challenges they bring.
While the extended window offers national team coaches more time and games with their players than the previous two weeks window allowed, he pointed out that it takes a lot more organisation and requires a lot more to keep players motivated over the period.
In the previous international window in September, the Jamaica national team played four matches under Speid, winning two and drawing and losing one each, to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League.
“The window is unprecedented. We have never had a window like this outside the major tournaments like a World Cup or when we have the Copa America or Euros.
“We are talking about players being with us continuously for four games, as against the usual two.
“That in itself posed a challenge to ensure that people remained on top of their form and did not get bored or start to yearn for the comfort of other environments,” he said.
Nevertheless, the time he was allowed with the players to get his ideas across was invaluable.
“From that point of view (having players for extended periods to better implement tactics), it is true, but a lot of times you have to split up what you do.
“It was good for that purpose to be able to try and establish an identity, how the team wants to play, whether in possession or out of position and I think we were able to do that, “ he said.
Meanwhile, the interim coach said he is trying to create a team that is versatile and flexible against various playing styles, as opposed to having a team with just one style of play.
He believes the last two Nations League games away to El Salvador and Honduras showed how effective this approach can be.
“We don’t want to be pigeon-holed into one style of play. Teams can counter you and decide what they want to take away from you (tactically). So we wanted to do that (have a style), but we want to have some versatility in how we play.
“Most of the players now have a very good understanding because we actually put our identity of what you wanted in writing, and it was explained to the team and that helped a lot, especially in the away games where we had more of the kind of players that we think were able to execute what we wanted.”
He added also that the technical team was pleased to have accomplished most, if not all the objectives they have set before the start of the window.
“The job was always to do a number of things. We are trying to see if we can climb the rankings, the Concacaf or the FIFA ranking,” Speid said.
