Just four years after their maiden voyage in a FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Jamaican Women’s National Team has scaled new heights at Australia/New Zealand 2023 by becoming the first Caribbean nation to reach the Round of 16.
The Reggae Girlz made history at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship when they became the first Caribbean nation to qualify for a Women’s World Cup.
France 2019 proved to be a valuable learning experience for the islanders, who scored their first ever Women’s World Cup goal, but suffered defeats in their three matches.
But there is no question that Jamaica have grown and improved as a team substantially since France 2019, and much of that has been proven within Concacaf’s new Concacaf W ecosystem with expanded tournaments and increased competition.
Jamaica’s journey to making history Down Undertook root in February 2022 in 2022 Concacaf W Championship Qualifying. They won all four matches to take the top spot in Group C, outscoring opponents 24-2.
It was just the foundation they needed to begin the 2022 CWC in Monterrey. Drawn into Group A and faced with a tough test against host nation Mexico in their opener, Jamaica answered the call with a 1-0 win through talismanic striker Khadija Shaw.
After a loss to the U.S., Jamaica topped fellow Caribbean side Haiti 4-0 to clinch their 2023 Women’s World Cup berth. A semifinal loss to Canada sent Jamaica to the Third-Place Match, where they defeated Costa Rica to confirm their spot in this fall’s Olympic Play-in match against Canada.
Having played nine official Concacaf matches in 2022, the Reggae Girlz were poised for something special at the Women’s World Cup and they were boosted by their participation in a pre-Women’s World Cup friendly tournament, which included a 1-0 win over Morocco.
Drawn into a very difficult Group F with European heavyweights France, reigning Copa America winners Brazil and fellow Concacaf side Panama, Jamaica delivered a defensive masterclass. A clean sheet 0-0 draw in their opener against France, giving Jamaica their first ever Women’s World Cup point, was followed by a dramatic first ever Women’s World Cup victory in a 1-0 final versus Panama thanks to Allyson Swaby’s winning goal.
Jamaica’s defense never wavered in their group stage finale against Brazil, limiting the South American giants to secure another 0-0 draw and the necessary result to advance.
To put this into context, Jamaica conceded 12 fewer goals in the group stage at Australia/New Zealand 2023 than at France 2019 and are now just the third Concacaf team to reach a Women’s World Cup knockout stage, joining the likes of the United States and Canada.
With so many milestones achieved by the Reggae Girlz in this Women’s World Cup, the growth of Jamaican Women’s Football has been evident for years in the Concacaf region and shows no signs of slowing down on the world’s stage.
Source: concacaf.com
