Jamaica’s men’s national team will not be among the 48 competitors when the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across North America on June 11, but the head of the country’s governing football body has already named his early picks to lift the sport’s most prestigious trophy. Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), highlighted three top contenders in an exclusive interview with the Jamaica Observer during his current trip to Florida, United States: defending champions Argentina, 2018 winners France, and Belgium. A self-described admirer of French superstar Kylian Mbappé, Ricketts said his personal connections to Belgian football also put the European side in his top group, leaving him hoping the eventual champion will come from this trio of elite teams.
Ricketts’ visit to Florida centers on supporting Jamaica’s young rising football talent, with the nation’s Under-20 men’s squad set to compete in two friendly matches organized by the Caribbean Americas Soccer Association (CASA). The young Reggae Boyz will face Haiti’s Under-20 side at the Lauderhill Sports Complex at 9:15 pm local time on Saturday, followed by a second matchup against the Miami United Under-20 team on Sunday. Beyond the youth matchups, the weekend will feature additional exhibition contests for football fans in attendance: a Masters clash between Jamaican and Haitian veteran players is scheduled for 5:00 pm Sunday, alongside a later all-star game between CASA representatives and a Haitian all-star squad.
Organizers have paired the on-field action with live Caribbean entertainment across both days of the event to engage spectators. Saturday’s matchday will feature performances from popular dancehall acts Jahshii and Laa Lee, who will take the stage for players and crowds. On Sunday, veteran reggae and dancehall stars Wayne Wonder and Spragga Benz will bring their decades of hit tracks to the complex to cap off the weekend of competition and celebration.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Ricketts confirmed he has already locked in his plans for the tournament’s opening match on June 11. He will join fellow football association presidents in Mexico City for the tournament’s opening fixture between host nation Mexico and South Africa. After the opening contest, FIFA will convene a leadership summit in Miami, and Ricketts added that the group will then stay in the U.S. to watch two additional group-stage matches before the summit concludes.