Jamaica secured a narrow 1-0 victory over New Caledonia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on March 27, 2026. The match was part of the intercontinental playoff tournament to determine the final spots for the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The decisive goal was scored by Jamaican forward Shamar Nicholson in the 65th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from the New Caledonian side. The Reggae Boyz controlled much of the possession but faced a resilient defensive effort from the Pacific islanders for the majority of the contest.
The result leaves Jamaica's qualification hopes alive as they advance to the next stage of the playoff tournament. For New Caledonia, the defeat marks the end of their historic campaign to reach a first-ever FIFA World Cup finals.
The match was officiated by a CONCACAF refereeing team and took place at a neutral venue as part of the centralized playoff format. Jamaica will now await the winner of another playoff fixture to determine their next opponent.
