New WCQ format beneficial to region - Horace Reid

Director of Caribbean Football at CONCACAF, Horace Reid insists that the new format for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers is beneficial to the region. Last year former FIFA vice-president Austin "Jack" Warner, criticized the new format for World Cup qualifying which will see 29 of the 35 members of the region only competing for a playoff spot.

The bulk of those nations will be from the Caribbean while the top six ranked teams by the June 2020 FIFA rankings will fight for one of three tickets to Qatar. However, Reid is in favor of this format with the quantity of games set to be tripled. Jamaica is currently fourth in the region and will need to remain in top six to fight for one of three World Cup spots.

To achieve this, team manager Roy Simpson says the Boyz can't afford to be inactive after their next FIFA date in March. Reid has also encouraged Jamaica and other nations to use this World Cup qualifying campaign in preparation for the 2026 cycle, as that tournament will be hosted in the region.

The Reggae Boyz will face Bermuda on March 11 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex before playing the Spanish region of Catalonia on March 30 in Lleida.