JFF awaits Gov’t signature for 2031 Women’s World Cup

President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Michael Ricketts said Jamaica being confirmed as one of four co-hosts for the expanded 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup is a process that had been long in the making and only requires the Government’s signature to seal the historic achievement for the nation.

Jamaica is set to be one of the four hosts for the 2031 tournament, alongside the USA, Mexico and Costa Rica, and Ricketts pointed that after a lengthy process lasting over two years, it was left to the Jamaica Government to sign off on the deal.

On Tuesday, Minister of Sport Olivia Grange announced that Jamaica will join the United States, Mexico and Costa in hosting the tournament.

“Minister ‘Babsy’ Grange was supposed to sign the document and send it back to FIFA. She (Grange) announced it in Parliament last week, but we are just waiting on the Government to sign the document.

“In fact, every other country has signed except us. Costa Rica signed. Mexico signed, and the US signed. So, hopefully, they will sign soon, because FIFA will make the formal announcement later this year. So we are in the final stage of the process,” he revealed.

He noted that only recently, a team of FIFA officials visited the island to have a look at the stadium and had assurance from the contractors responsible for upgrading the facility that all will be done in due time.

“We had a Zoom meeting with the contractors, and the contractors assured the FIFA people that the venue will be ready. So everything is in place. It’s just for the Government to finalise and sign the document and return it and FIFA will make the formal announcement.

“Everything is now virtually waiting on the Government to sign the document. It ought to be done soon. The minister made an announcement in Parliament Tuesday in the Budget presentation, and that kind of rekindled it and got everybody excited again. So that is the only thing that is left.”

He added that being one of the hosts for the 2031 World Cup means they would get an automatic spot at the tournament, which would mean four consecutive World Cups for the Reggae Girlz, if they can defeat Costa Rica in November.

“It would be a remarkable achievement (to qualify for four straight World Cups),” Ricketts said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com