Girlz brace for hostile Mexico test ahead of Brazil 2027 decider

Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz will put their progress and preparations to the test against Mexico Friday, with head coach Hubert Busby Jr. targeting victory in the first of two international friendlies designed to sharpen the team for next month’s decisive Concacaf Women’s Championship.

The opening encounter against the 28th-ranked Mexicans is scheduled for an 8L00 p.m. kick-off Jamaica time at Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes. The teams will meet again on October 13 at Estadio La Corregidora in Querétaro.

For Jamaica, the two-match series represents an important examination of their readiness for a high-stakes showdown against Costa Rica, with a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil on the line.

“We’re heading into the game to win the match,” Busby said at yesterday’s pre-match press conference.

“[Mexico are] a formidable opponent, so we respect them, and they do some things that we’ll have to adapt to, and we do some things that they’ll have to adapt to as well,” he added.

Building toward the Costa Rica decider

The friendlies come with Jamaica preparing for a decisive quarter-final assignment in the Concacaf Women’s Championship in Dallas next month. Victory over Costa Rica would secure the Reggae Girlz a place at the 2027 World Cup.

Busby wants his team to enter that contest with confidence, tactical clarity, and the momentum that comes from competing successfully against quality opposition.

Although the results against Mexico matter, the coach views the encounters as part of a broader preparation programme intended to ensure the team can perform under pressure when qualification is at stake.

“We play to get results. We play to ensure that we win games and have great momentum going forward,” he said.

“It’s really about us being able to execute and put the fine-tuning on the things that we want to do, both offensively, defensively, and also in transition.”

The coaching staff will therefore be looking for improvements in possession and without the ball, as well as greater efficiency when the team moves between attacking and defensive phases.

Experienced core expected to lead the charge

Busby has placed considerable emphasis on World Cup experience in selecting his squad, believing that players who have already navigated major international tournaments will be crucial in Mexico and during the upcoming qualification campaign.

Only six members of the current squad are yet to appear at a World Cup, with five of those players having made their debuts after the 2023 tournament.

“The reality is there’s no substitute for experience,” Busby said.

“Coming into this hostile environment and the ones we’re going to go into next month, you need players who have seen it and done it before.”

He is nevertheless confident in the quality of the younger players and other professionals who were unable to attend the current camp.

“With that said, we have some really good young players and some other professional players who weren’t able to get to this camp right now that are going to be asking questions as well. So, we have a really strong group that we are confident in that will be able to get the job done.”

The coach believes the squad has made significant strides since Jamaica’s previous meetings with Mexico, when the Mexicans recorded convincing 3-0 and 4-0 victories in two friendlies last year.

“The group since then has come on tremendously in leaps and bounds in terms of what we’re looking to do, both again in possession and out of possession,” he said.

The latest camp, he added, has been lively and competitive, with the players in a positive frame of mind following their opening training sessions.

University of North Carolina goalkeeper Liya Brooks, who recently cleared concussion protocol, was the only late arrival and was expected to join the squad in time for Friday's opener.

Travel and squad management part of the plan

The choice of Mexico as the preparation venue also reflects a deliberate effort to expose the Girlz to demanding conditions similar to those they could encounter during the championship.

Playing away from home against a formidable opponent will test their ability to handle pressure, while the itinerary offers an opportunity to rehearse the travel demands associated with the tournament.

Busby noted that the distances between Aguascalientes and Querétaro closely mirror those between Dallas and Houston, where the team could be required to travel between matches during its November assignment.

“One of the other things that we’re able to replicate is the distances between the games,” Busby said. “Aguascalientes and Querétaro are almost the same distances from Dallas to Houston. So, we’ll be able to replicate that travel immediately after the game in terms of what that would look like for our group the minute we win that match.

“All of that is done in preparation and trying to make sure that all details are covered heading into Dallas.”

The coaching staff is also expected to rotate players for the second friendly to manage workloads and reduce the risk of injuries, while giving the wider squad valuable minutes ahead of the Costa Rica encounter.

With a World Cup berth within reach, the Reggae Girlz will be looking to turn their preparations into tangible progress, beginning with a statement performance against Mexico Friday.

Reggae Girlz squad

Goalkeepers: Aliyah Morgan, Rebecca Spence, Liya Brooks.

Defenders: Allyson Swaby, Chantelle Swaby, Deneisha Blackwood, Konya Plummer, Naya Cardoza, Tianna Harris, Kameron Simmonds, Amelia Van Zanten.

Midfielders: Atlanta Primus, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Drew Spence, Jody Brown, Jade Bailey, Solai Washington.

Forwards: Natasha Thomas, Trudi Carter, Kayla McKenna, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Kalyssa Van Zanten, Khadija Shaw.