New Caledonia is set to face Jamaica in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Play-Off Tournament Pathway 1, following the recent draw held at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. The winner of this match will advance to the final where they will meet the Congo DR for a chance to secure a spot in the upcoming World Cup.
This Play-Off Tournament features two teams from CONCACAF and one representative from each of the OFC, AFC, CAF, and CONMEBOL, vying for two final places in the global tournament scheduled for next year in Mexico, with matches taking place in Guadalajara and Monterrey.
New Caledonia earned its place in the tournament by finishing as runners-up in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Oceania Qualifiers, despite a 3-0 defeat to New Zealand in the final match held at Eden Park in Auckland back in March. Christian Karembeu, the New Caledonia-born 1998 FIFA World Cup winner, was present at the draw, alongside New Caledonia’s head coach Johann Sidaner, who is looking forward to this significant match-up.
Coach Sidaner expressed optimism about the opportunity, stating, “New Caledonia has earned the right to play in this play-off match, and it will be a fantastic event for us. The draw has paired us with Jamaica, which looks promising on paper, but we will inevitably be underdogs against an opponent ranked 70th on the FIFA rankings.”
Historically, Jamaica has qualified for the World Cup once before, during the 1998 tournament in France but failed to secure direct qualification for the 2026 event, missing out on the last day of CONCACAF qualifying due to a 0-0 draw with Curacao. Following this disappointment, Jamaica’s head coach Steve McClaren resigned, leaving the team in search of new leadership as they prepare for New Caledonia.
The Jamaican squad boasts several players who have made their mark in English football, including West Ham’s Michail Antonio and Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, adding another layer of challenge for Sidaner’s squad. Despite these challenges, Sidaner remains focused, recognizing the importance of capitalizing on the chance to showcase their football while acknowledging Jamaica’s strengths, especially with home-field advantage due to their geographical proximity to Mexico.
Preparing for the playoffs poses difficulties for New Caledonia, particularly as there are no remaining FIFA international windows to gather their players. Nevertheless, the team is buoyed by recent successes, including a historic 2-0 victory over Gibraltar, marking their first win against a European nation.
Sidaner stressed the unique circumstances of their preparation while maintaining a serious approach to the upcoming challenges. Full details regarding the match against Jamaica will be announced soon, with Curacao and Bolivia also meeting in the other playoff semi-final, where the winner will face Iraq for a chance at World Cup qualification.
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