Jamaica moved to within one win of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after grinding out a 1-0 victory over New Caledonia in their inter-confederation play-off semi-final.
The contest, the first-ever meeting between the two sides, began with Jamaica dictating the tempo. A curling effort from Richard King inside the opening quarter-hour narrowly missed the target, signalling the Reggae Boyz’s early intent.
Their pressure paid off in the 18th minute in scrappy fashion. A low free-kick from Ronaldo Webster slipped through the grasp of goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine, allowing Bailey Cadamarteri to react quickest and hammer home the rebound.
New Caledonia came closest to an equaliser just before the break, but Georges Gope-Fenepej squandered a golden one-on-one opportunity, opting for an ambitious chip that was comfortably gathered by Andre Blake.
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With chances at a premium, a familiar pattern in Jamaica’s recent fixtures the second half followed a similar script. Karoy Anderson wasted a clear opening from the edge of the area, while Webster was denied by a timely intervention from Nyikeine.
The introduction of Leon Bailey added urgency but not incision, as Jamaica prioritised control to see out the narrow advantage.
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Jamaica will now face DR Congo in the decisive play-off final, with a place at the World Cup on the line.
