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No longer the hunters - Busby says Reggae Girlz are now the ones to beat in World Cup Qualifiers
April 10, 2026
Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby said Jamaica has moved from the underdogs into the team to beat as he aims to close out Group B of in the Concacaf W Qualifiers in positive fashion.
The Reggae Girlz will face Antigua and Barbuda today in World Cup Qualifying action, with kick off set for 7 p.m.
It will be the first of the two Concacaf W Qualifiers in the April window, as the Girlz will also face Guyana at the National Stadium on April 18.
The Girlz will enter the match as overwhelming favourites, sitting atop the group with a perfect record of two wins from as many games
Antigua, having lost their first two games, are mathematically eliminated from World Cup contention.
DIFFERENT CHALLENGE
Busby said despite their form, each game will come with its own challenges as the Girlz now navigate the Concacaf region as one of the top teams.
"Every game poses a different problem. The next two games for us really is about the focus on Antigua," he explained.
"We know now that they've been officially eliminated, so that comes with a different sort of challenge. The reality is that they can maybe play with a little more freedom than they did before. That pressure is off for them," he continued.
"We speak now about what it means to be the hunted. It's slightly different from us being the hunter for the last couple of years, so that comes with a different challenge as well. We have to be prepared for that."
POSITIVE IMPRESSION
The match will also be the first game on home soil for the Reggae Girlz since their friendly against South Africa in December 2024.
Busby is hoping to leave a positive impression for the fans and close out the group with a perfect record.
"The most important thing for us is that it's been a while since we've been on home soil," the Reggae Girlz boss said. "It's great to be back in Jamaica as a group. I know the players have been waiting for that for a long time."
He continued: "We want to make sure that we get the results, but also do well in front of our people. So I know the camp has been good thus far, and obviously looking forward to the match tomorrow."
The winner of Group B will advance to the Concacaf W Championship, which will be played in November this year.
The Concacaf W Championship will serve as the qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
