World Cup 2026: How strong is Jamaica, DR Congo's opponent in the playoff final?

31.03.26 AET World Cup Qualification Inter-Confederation

DR Congo

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Jamaica

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DR Congo now knows its opponent for the intercontinental playoff final for a spot at the 2026 World Cup. It's none other than Jamaica. Let's take a closer look at the Leopards' rivals as they vie for a place in the final stage of the American World Cup.

Fifty-two years after their last World Cup appearance, DR Congo has a shot at making history with another qualification—if they can overcome Jamaica in the playoff final on March 31, 2026, at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico.

What you need to know about the Jamaican national team

Jamaica currently sits 70th in the FIFA rankings. Their highest-ever ranking was 27th, achieved in August 1998. Their lowest point came in October 2008, when they dropped to 116th.

The Reggae Boyz played their first-ever international match on March 22, 1925, clinching a 2-1 win over Haiti. The Green, Yellow, and Black have only one World Cup finals appearance, back in 1998 in France, where they exited in the group stage.

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In 2024, the Reggae Boyz finished third in the Nations League and previously reached two Gold Cup finals in 2015 and 2017 (out of 15 appearances). They were also invited to three Copa América tournaments, but were knocked out in the group stage each time (2015, 2016, and 2024).

Jamaica's road to the 2026 World Cup playoffs

In the first round, Jamaica dominated Group E, winning all four matches against Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Dominica, and the British Virgin Islands.

The Reggae Boyz then finished second in Group B in the next round, racking up 11 points—just one behind Curaçao (12 pts). They finished ahead of Trinidad and Tobago (7 pts) and Bermuda (1 pt).

By finishing among the two best runners-up across the three groups, Jamaica advanced to the playoffs. They knocked out New Caledonia (1-0) to set up this final showdown with DR Congo.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

Related teams and leagues

DR Congo

Jamaica

World Cup Qualification Inter-Confederation