Breathing room for Speid
Interim coach has until February to name 35-man squad Looks at new players, waits for documentation
Published:Tuesday | January 20, 2026 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Reggae Boyz interim coach Rudolph Speid has revealed that there is no longer a need to submit a 60-man provisional list to world governing body FIFA ahead of World Cup playoffs in March.
At his first press conference as interim Reggae Boyz coach, Speid announced a 52-man provisional squad, which was to eventually increase to 60 players by January 15.
According to Speid, the Jamaica Football Federation is now only required to submit a 35-member squad 30 days before the first game in the intercontinental play-offs against New Caledonia in Mexico in March.
Speid said although the Reggae Booyz were no longer required to produce a 60-man list, they will continue to monitor the initial 52 named, as well as others, which amounts to more.
“We will not finalise (a 60-man squad). We have some more time. The deadline is now 30 days before we play our first game.
“The (60-man) list is for us to monitor these players, to see what their progress is. The list is fluid and we will make changes.
“However, 30 days before is what we are looking at, but we are monitoring all the 52, plus others.
“However, when we are to come down to the final amount, we will have 30 days before the first game,” he said.
Speid went on to explain that some new players have come to the coaching staff’s attention and he does not want to close the door and exclude a potentially good player, who could assist the team in the qualification process.
So he will keep the door ajar.
“Some people have come up on the horizon. We have more than eight people that we are monitoring.
“Some of the players are working on their eligibility, but the final list of 35 will be 30 days before we kick the first ball.”
He added that. “Yes, (some are processing their documentation), and we will wait until the 30 days before to see who can make it in and who cannot make it in time.”