The Reggae Boyz will face Argentina for the 4th time in their history and their first time since 2015. All previous occasions ended in victories for La Albiceleste. In fact Jamaica’s only ever victory over Argentina came at an age group tournament. This came at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where Keammar Daley scored a brace for the Jamaicans in a 2-0 victory. 

There are no players from that team that are in this squad to face Argentina on September 27 at Red Bull Arena, but there is a different sense of optimism for this encounter as the Reggae Boyz have inherited a new coach in the form of Heimir Halgrimsson. 

Halgrimsson has a deal with the Reggae Boyz until the summer of 2026 and will commence duties with this friendly international.

On September 16, 2022 he was unveiled at a Press Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel where he spoke about his plans and excitement of taking this opportunity. 

There was great excitement in the room with the news that Andre Blake would be included in Jamaica’s squad. 

Everyone also stood up straight when he said that his first objective is to beat Argentina. The coach also highlighted his willingness and excitement to work with the Jamaican talent. 

Coach Halgrimsson does have experience coaching against Argentina. This came when he was the Head Coach of Iceland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He produced arguably one of the shocks of the tournament after holding the 2 time World Cup winners to a 1-1 draw in Russia. Not only did Halgrimsson help his country of birth qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but he also guided Iceland to the Quarter-Finals of the European Championships in 2016. 

The Reggae Boyz full squad reads as follows:

1. Michail Antonio – West Ham United 
2. Shamar Nicholson – Spartak Moscow
3. Andre Gray – Aris 
4. Kaheem Parris- Dynamo Kyiv
5. Daniel Johnson – Preston North End 
6. Bobby Reid –  Fulham 
7. Damion Lowe –  Inter Miami 
8. Leon Bailey –  Aston Villa 
9. Ravel Morrison –  DC United 
10. Kevon Lambert –  Phoenix Rising 
11. Jonathan Russell –  Huddersfield FC 
12. Kevin Stewart –  Blackpool 
13. Amari Bell –  Luton Town 
14. Gregory Leigh –  Ipswich Town 
15. Joel Latibeaudiere –  Swansea City 
16. Jamoi Topey-Mount Pleasant 
17. Javain Brown Vancouver –  Whitecaps FC 
18. Jamal Lowe- AFC Bournemouth 
19. Richard King –  Cavalier SC 
20. Adrian Mariappa –  Macarthur FC 
21. Kemar Foster (GK) – Waterhouse FC 
22. Dillon Barnes (GK) –  QPR 
23. Jahmali Waite (GK) –  Pittsburgh Riverhounds 

RESERVES 

24. Maliek Howell –  University of Memphis
25. Ricardo Thomas –  Dunbeholden 
26. Demario Phillips –  Mount Pleasant 
27. Jourdain Fletcher –  Unattached 
28. Corey Burke – Philadelphia Union 
29. Coniah Boyce Clarke (GK) –  Reading FC

In addition to the inclusion of Andre Blake, the latest update from the press conference in relation to Jamaica’s squad is that Swansea City’s Defender Joel Latibeaudiere is a doubt due to injury and so is Blackpool’s midfielder Kevin Stewart. 

Wigan Athletic’s Curtis Tilt has been called up and makes his first return to the squad since the summer of 2021. 

Where Argentina’s squad is concerned they have called up a solid unit which comprises the likes of Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (PSG), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United) and so many other stars.

Argentina who have not lost a game since the Copa America semi-finals in 2019 will have friendlies against Honduras on September 23 before facing Jamaica. 

These two friendlies are Argentina’s last two dress rehearsals before the World Cup Squad is named so it’s fair to say all players will be looking to impress to make the plane to Qatar. Argentina are in Group C of the World Cup and will face Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia. 

The tickets are sold out for this game with the Jamaican Diaspora keen on making noise in the stands. 

Coach Halgrimsson is now set for another Chapter of his career and a new Chapter is ahead for Jamaican football. 

Jamaica’s top coaches by win percentages:

1. John Barnes – 7 wins, 0 losses, 4 draws – 63%

2.  Wendell Downswell – 12 wins, 5 losses and 4 draws – 57.1%

3.  Theodore Tappa Whitmore – 55 wins, 39 losses, 21 draws – 48%

4. Rene Simoes – 55 wins, 37 losses, 35 draws – 43.33 %

5. Clovis De Oliveira  13 wins, 10 losses, 7 draws – 43.3%

6. Carl Brown  42 wins, 34 losses, 24 draws – 42%

7.  Winfried Schaefer 14 wins, 21 losses 7 draws – 33.3%

8. Jorge Penna –    8 wins, 13 losses, 7 draws – 28.5%

9. Bora Milutinovic 1 win, 5 losses, 1 draw    14.2%

10. Sebastiao Lazaroni – 1 win, 3 losses, 5 draws – 11.1%

HEAD TO HEAD HISTORY:

ARGENTINA 5-0 JAMAICA – 1998 FIFA WORLD CUP

ARGENTINA 2-1 JAMAICA – FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL 2010

ARGENTINA 1-0 JAMAICA  – 2015 COPA AMERICA

ARGENTINA – 3RD IN THE FIFA WORLD RANKINGS

JAMAICA – 62ND IN THE FIFA WORLD RANKINGS