Jamaica vs Mexico: Jamaicans to host Mexico national soccer team behind closed doors in World Cup qualifiers

Jamaica informed that the matches against Mexico and Costa Rica, to be held on January 27 and February 2, respectively, of the CONCACAF octagonal, will be played behind closed doors, as decided by the government of that country.

"No spectators will be allowed at our FIFA World Cup qualifiers at home against Mexico and Costa Rica," Jamaica wrote on its social networks, where they made it clear that the decision was made following government orders.

"The government has decided that there will be no spectators at the Estadio Nacional, our home stadium, for the World Cup qualifiers. As such, our matches against Mexico and Costa Rica will be played behind closed doors."

Michael Ricketts words

"We are very, very disappointed...we really thought we were past that stage. But at the same time, we understand the severity of the pandemic and the new strain of COVID-19," commented the President of the Football Federation of Jamaica (FFJ).

"The truth is I suspected this would happen based on what had happened with cricket and school soccer." 

"But it's disappointing because we had no spectators and then we were allowed to have 5,000 in the later game, we had actually asked for an increase in the number, only now we're told we can't have any spectators. But that's life. We just have to move on and hope for good results. The big picture really is to get as many points as we can and qualify for Qatar," he finished. 

Jamaica will kick off the FIFA matchday at home against Mexico on January 27. Later, on January 30, they will visit Panama and will close on February 2 at home against Costa Rica.

Mexico also will face Costa Rica and Panamá in the World Cup qualifiers

Gerardo Martino's team will play their matches on the same days, after visiting the Reggae Boyz, and will finish the series at the Azteca Stadium, where they will host Costa Rica and Panama, respectively.

After the first eight rounds of the CONCACAF octagonal, Canada are the leaders and the only undefeated team with 16 points, after four wins and four draws. Behind the Maple Leafs are the United States with 15 points.

The Mexican national team dropped to third place with 14 points, after losses to the United States and Canada, tied with Panama, which have the same number of points but a worse goal difference.

Costa Rica are in fifth place with nine points and Jamaica are in sixth place with seven points, just above El Salvador (6) and Honduras (3).