Steve McClaren has stepped down as head coach of Jamaica following the Reggae Boyz’s failure to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The 64-year-old Englishman announced his resignation on Tuesday night, moments after his side were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Curacao at Kingston’s National Stadium.
Jamaica went into the match knowing only victory would guarantee their place at the World Cup, but a spirited defensive display from Curacao left McClaren’s men with no way through. The result meant the Caribbean nation missed out on direct qualification and instead watched their opponents clinch the final automatic berth from the group — a crushing blow in front of a stunned home crowd.
For Steve McClaren, it marked another painful chapter in a career filled with both promise and near-misses. The former England boss, who infamously failed to guide the Three Lions to Euro 2008, admitted in his resignation statement that the disappointment was hard to take.
“I have given everything I have to this job, to this role,” McClaren said in an emotional address following the match. “Leading this team really has been one of the greatest honours of my career. But football is a results business, and tonight we’ve fallen short of our goal, which was to qualify from this group.”
He added that the time had come for change and for Jamaica to look forward under new leadership. “It is the responsibility of the leader to take accountability and make decisions in the best interest of the team,” he continued. “After deep reflection and an honest assessment of where we are and where we need to go, I have decided to step down as head coach.”
McClaren’s departure leaves the Jamaica Football Federation with little time to act. The Reggae Boyz still have a chance to reach the 2026 tournament via next year’s inter-confederation play-offs, which will also feature Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, New Caledonia, Bolivia, and Suriname.
During his 16 months in charge, Steve McClaren had spoken often about restoring Jamaica’s place among the elite of CONCACAF football. But despite flashes of progress, his tenure ultimately ended in frustration, as the nation’s long wait for a second World Cup appearance — after their historic debut in 1998 — continues.
