Steve McClaren has resigned as Jamaica head coach after his side failed to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup.
Jamaica needed a win against Curaçao to secure top spot in the group, but a goalless draw meant Curaçao finished first and booked their place at next summer’s tournament — the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup.
McClaren said in a statement: “Over the last 18 months, I have given everything I have to this job, to this role. I carried the weight and pride of this job with the deepest respect. 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. It is the responsibility of the leader, myself, to step forward, take accountability and make decisions in the best interests of the team for them to go forward. 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 of the Jamaican national team.”
McClaren replaced Heimir Hallgrímsson in August 2024 and took charge of 24 matches in total, winning 13. His side lost only once in World Cup qualifying — a 2-0 defeat to Curaçao in October.
Forty-two teams have now qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The draw for the play-offs will take place on Thursday at 12pm UK time from FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich. Live coverage will be available on Sky Sports digital platforms.