KINGSTON, Jamaica – Interim head coach Rudolph Speid has shaken up Jamaica’s national football team roster, revealing a youth-centric 24-man squad on Wednesday for the upcoming Unity Cup, scheduled to kick off later this month in London. The squad turns a spotlight on emerging talent, with five teenagers earning spots – headlined by 16-year-old Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri, a prospect from the Manchester City academy who receives his first senior call-up to the Reggae Boyz.
Joining Cadamarteri in the young cohort are two Under-20 national team regulars: goalkeeper Joshua Grant and defender Marlon Van de Wetering, who currently plies his club trade in the Netherlands. Rounding out the teenage selections are 19-year-olds forward Nick Simmonds and defender Odin Samuels-Smith, both of whom earned their places after impressing coaching staff in recent youth competitions.
While the roster prioritizes fresh faces, it also leans on veteran experience to anchor the young group. The squad will be led by seasoned defender Damion Lowe, who brings 80 senior international caps to the table, making him the most experienced player in the group. Seven players based in Jamaica’s domestic leagues have also earned call-ups, highlighting the depth of talent developing in the country’s local football system.
The tournament structure has four teams competing for the Unity Cup title. Jamaica will kick off their campaign against India in the first semi-final on May 27, hosted at Charlton Athletic’s stadium. A day earlier, three-time champions Nigeria will face Zimbabwe in the second semi-final at the same venue. The two semi-final winners will advance to the final on May 30, while the losing sides will face off in a third-place play-off ahead of the championship match.
For Jamaica, the 2025 tournament offers a chance at redemption: the Reggae Boyz reached the Unity Cup final last year, only to fall to Nigeria, who secured their third title with the win. This year’s young roster presents an opportunity for new talent to gain valuable international experience against high-level competition, while testing Jamaica’s ability to compete with the tournament’s top sides.