Reggae Boyz One Win Away From 2026 World Cup Qualification

Baliey Cadamarteri strike secures 1-0 playoff win vver New Caledonia, DR Congo await in tuesday final

Cadamarteri finished from inside the box to clinch the win. (Photo: Getty Images)

The Jamaica national football team are now just one win away from securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bailey Cadamarteri’s 18th-minute goal was enough to secure the win for Jamaica, keeping their hopes of ending a 28-year World Cup drought alive.

They will now face DR Congo in next Tuesday’s final of the intercontinental playoff, with the winner guaranteed a place at this summer’s showpiece, joining Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K.

In his first competitive match in charge, interim head coach Rudolph Speid handed starts to debutants Ephron Mason-Clark and Andre Brooks, while Leon Bailey, returning to the squad, came off the bench in the 68th minute.

It was not the most polished performance from either side, but Jamaica controlled large portions of the game and did enough to secure the result.

The Reggae Boyz will now look to get over the line for the second time since November after missing out on automatic qualification.