Concacaf got it right - Coley

Former national assistant coach Miguel Coley believes Concacaf has gotten it right with regard to the new eight-team World Cup-qualification format, which could see teams like Jamaica benefiting.

Coley, who assisted then national coach Winfried Schafer from 2014 to 2016, says the new format is good for all members of Concacaf as it gives everyone direct access to World Cup 2022.

Teams such as Jamaica, Mexico, Honduras, USA, Costa Rica, which did well in the Nations League, were deservingly respected and fast-tracked to the final round. For Jamaica, Coley believes it is great to be one step closer in getting one of the three and a half spots.

"The team has been to two Caribbean Cup finals and two Gold Cup finals in the last six years and boast youthfulness, experience, mental toughness and improved discipline, which makes them a top team to advance to Qatar 2022," said Coley.

Competitive games

Coley, who currently plies his trade in the UAE Gulf League with FC Baniyas, says it is important for the Jamaica Football Federation to get coach Theodore Whitmore and the Reggae Boyz competitive games to get them ready for the qualifiers.

"It's important that they get very good competitive games to work on tactics, team cohesion and style of play during the first and second round of the Concacaf qualifiers, which starts in October of this year," added Coley.

While admitting that the national team is in good stead to claim one of the lucrative spots, Coley is mindful that other Caribbean countries will have their tails up with the new format.

"The teams in the Caribbean have shown improvement during the Nations League, the likes of Trinidad, Haiti and Grenada, to some extent, have done well and it will be interesting to see them navigating their way through the rounds," he said.

The final round will see the eight teams play each other home and away for a total of 14 games. The top-three finishers will qualify directly to the World Cup, with the fourth-place finisher moving on to the intercontinental play-off. The matches will begin with the FIFA match window in June 2021 and will continue through to March 2022.