Final six World Cup spots on the line in playoffs
What to know about the final six spots up for grabs in the FIFA World Cup playoffs
Jamaica defeated New Caledonia, 1-0, in a FIFA intercontinental playoff semifinal match in Guadalajara, Mexico, on March 26.
The victory moves Jamaica to within a win of reaching its first World Cup since 1998. The Reggae Boyz will play Congo on March 31, with the winner earning one of the six remaining World Cup berths being decided by playoffs in both Mexico and Europe. The Jamaica-Congo winner goes into Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri scored the game’s lone goal in the 18th minute, and tally held as the difference for the next 70-plus minutes. The match deteriorated into a slog in the second half as the altitude – Estadio Akron sits more than 5,000 feet above sea level – appeared to take a toll on both sides. Jamaica has four days to rest up before its huge match against Congo.
In the other FIFA intercontinental playoff semifinal match, Bolivia defeated Suriname and will face Iraq for a spot in the World Cup on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 31.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights of the Jamaica vs. New Caledonia FIFA intercontinental playoff match:
- New Caledonia – 0
- Jamaica – 1
Final
Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri’s goal in the 18th minute gave Jamaica a lead it enjoys at intermission.
Jamaica has been the stronger side, but will be disappointed to only have one goal after 45 minutes of play. It has enjoyed a decided edge in possession (57% to 43%), while getting four shots on target out of seven attempts.
Congo awaits the winner with a World Cup berth on the line. That game will be played March 31 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Wrexham man Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri got Jamaica on the board first in the 18th minute, cleaning up a blocked shot by New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine on a free kick.
- Date: Thursday, March 26
- Time: 11 p.m. ET
- Where: Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)
- TV: FS1
- Stream: Fubo
Watch Jamaica vs. New Caledonia on Fubo
Thursday, March 26
- Bolivia 2, Suriname 1
- New Caledonia vs. Jamaica, 11 p.m. ET (FS1)
Tuesday, March 31
- New Caledonia-Jamaica winner vs. Congo, 5 p.m. ET (FS1)
- Bolivia vs. Iraq, 11 p.m. ET (FS1)
As the two highest-ranked teams, Iraq and Congo received automatic byes to the final. The New Caledonia-Jamaica-Congo winner goes into Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia. The Bolivia-Iraq winner goes into Group I with France, Senegal and Norway.
- Goalkeeper: Andre Blake
- Defenders: Ronaldo Webster, Ethan Pinnock, Richard King, Joel Latibeaudiere
- Midfielders: Karoy Anderson, Isaac Hayden, Ephron Mason-Clark
- Forwards: Tyreece Campbell, Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri, Andre Brooks
Substitutes: Jamal Lowe, Amari’i Bell, Renaldo Cephas, Leon Bailey, Kasey Palmer, Norman Campbell, Jahmali Waite, Kyle Ming, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Amal Knight, Tyrese Hall, Damion Lowe
- Goalkeeper: Rocky Nyikeine
- Defenders: Jekob Jeno, Joseph Athalé, Tuomotr Fonzy Ranchain, Didier Simane, Morgan Mathelon
- Midfielders: Angelo Fulgini, César Lolohéa, Joris Kenon
- Forwards: Jean-Jacques Katrawa, Georges Gope-Fenepej
Substitutes: Henry Welepane, Gérard Waia, Titouan Richard, Bernard Iwa, William Rokuad, Germain Haéwégéné, Lues Waya, Yoan Béaruné, Thomas Schmidt, Pierre Iékawé, Mickaël Ulile, Shene Wélépane
The collection of islands known as New Caledonia is located approximately 900 miles east of Australia in the south Pacific Ocean.
A French unique collectivity, New Caledonia has a population around 265,000.
New Caledonia finished second in Oceanian confederation qualification behind New Zealand, which earned the federation’s one automatic World Cup berth.
Jamaica finished second in its Concacaf qualification group behind Curaçao, which qualified for its first World Cup.
Liam van Gelderen gave Suriname hope by giving the Concacaf side a 1-0 lead after the halftime break, but Bolivia scored twice in a seven-minute span later in the second half to claim a 2-1 win in a FIFA intercontinental playoff semifinal at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico, on March 26.
Moises Paniagua and Miguel Terceros scored in the 72nd and 79th minute, respectively, to push Bolivia into the final against Iraq on March 31 at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe. The Bolivia-Iraq winner will qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
While Bolivia seeks its first World Cup appearance since 1994, Iraq last qualified in 1986.
The 2026 World Cup will include 48 teams, a huge jump up from the 32 that participated in Qatar 2022.
Here is a complete list of all 42 countries to qualify for the 2026 World Cup:
- Host nations: Canada, Mexico, United States
- Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
- Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
- Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
- Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
- Oceania: New Zealand
- South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
