Steve McClaren stepped down as Jamaica head coach on Tuesday night after his side failed to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, bringing a sudden and emotional end to an 18-month tenure that had promised far more than it ultimately delivered.
Jamaica entered their final group match knowing a victory over Curacao, ranked 82nd in the world, would be enough to take them directly to next summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Instead, a tense and error-strewn goalless draw in Kingston allowed Curacao to complete a historic qualification of their own.
The Caribbean island will now compete at a World Cup for the first time, becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the finals with a population of around 156,000.
For McClaren, the stalemate represented a painful echo of his most notorious moment in management.
The former England coach has lived for years with the memory of his failure to reach Euro 2008, and the sight of his Jamaican players slumping to the turf at full time appeared to carry an unmistakable sense of déjà vu.
Within minutes of the final whistle, he informed the Jamaica Football Federation that he would resign.
Steve McClaren stepped down as Jamaica head coach on Tuesday night after his side failed to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, bringing a sudden and emotional end to an 18-month tenure that had promised far more than it ultimately delivered
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In a statement released shortly afterwards, McClaren said the weight of responsibility rested squarely on his shoulders.
“Over the last 18 months I have given everything I have to this job. Leading this team has been one of the greatest honours of my career,” he said.
“But football is a results business and tonight we have fallen short of our goal, which was to qualify from this group.
Steve McClaren will now enjoy some time away from management following his decision to step down
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PA“It is the responsibility of the leader to step forward, take accountability and make decisions in the best interests of the team.
“After deep reflection and an honest assessment of where we are and where we need to go, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Jamaican national team.”
He added that the squad may benefit from a change of direction ahead of the play-offs that now await.
“Sometimes the best thing a leader can do is to recognise when a fresh voice, new energy and a different perspective is required to move this team forward,” he added.
Those who witnessed the aftermath described a visibly shaken McClaren.
Curacao’s assistant manager Dean Gorre, who took charge on the night in the absence of Dick Advocaat, said the result had left his opposite number deeply affected.
Steve McClaren was sacked by England following their failure to qualify for Euro 2008
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“Steve was crying. It affected him that much,” Gorre revealed.
Jamaica have not appeared at a World Cup since their debut in France in 1998, a historic moment that remains one of the nation’s proudest sporting achievements.
The Reggae Boyz finished second in Group B of the CONCACAF qualifiers this time with 11 points, one behind Curacao.
Their campaign comprised three wins, two draws and a single defeat, a loss suffered away to Curacao earlier in October.
Although performances were often spirited, Jamaica repeatedly struggled to convert promising passages of play into goals, a weakness that proved fatal in the final fixture.
The play-off route now presents a far more uncertain challenge and the Jamaica Football Federation must decide swiftly how to rebuild morale after a night that left both players and supporters stunned.
