Jamaica to play in US Soccer Summer Series

On June 10, the Reggae Girlz will tackle Nigeria and on June 13, they will play world champions and host, the United States of America. Both games will be played at the BBVA stadium in Houston, Texas. Portugal will also take part in the four-team event.

The games will be the first for Jamaica since they participated in Concacaf Olympic qualifiers in February 2020.

“We are extremely pleased to be part of this series of games,” said Reggae Girlz coach Hubert Busby. “They come in handy as we begin to put our squad together for the World Cup Qualifiers beginning in November. These games give us a chance to see where we are and to incorporate new faces and talents. These are two great opponents and we are always excited to match skills with the best in the world.”

The format of the Summer Series will feature the USA and Nigeria playing three matches while Portugal and Jamaica will play two. No standings will be kept and all matches will be treated as friendlies.

The USA is the best team in the world and Nigeria is a historic power and the number one ranked team in Africa. Portugal is among a group of European teams that is making big strides forward in the women’s game, and Jamaica qualified for its first Women’s World Cup in 2019.

Once the teams arrive in Houston, all the players and staffs will operate inside highly controlled environments at the host hotels. The staging of trainings and the matches will fall under the comprehensive U.S. Soccer Return to Play Protocols and Guidelines and in accordance with the Concacaf Return to Play Protocols. Everyone entering the controlled environment will be tested for COVID-19 before traveling, upon arrival and periodically thereafter. The teams will not begin full team training until the results of all arrival tests are confirmed.

The USA has played Jamaica three times in its history, all in Concacaf qualifying matches, with the Americans winning 6-0 in their most recent encounter during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Qualifier. Jamaica has several players currently playing for NWSL in the US, from which the bulk of the squad will be drawn.

Jamaica is ranked 51st in the world, with the USA ranked number one and Nigeria ranked 38th.