Defend home turf – Davis

Former national player Paul 'Tegat' Davis has stressed the importance of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz capitalising on their home fixtures during the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The full field has now been confirmed for the Concacaf region. Canada, El Salvador and Panama, who won their respective second-round ties last week, will join the Reggae Boyz, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras in the revised eight-team final round which starts on September 2. The traditional six-team round-robin competition for this cycle was scrapped because of COVID-19 related delays.

Jamaica will have a rough start to their campaign as five of the first seven matches will be away from home including their opener against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. With only two home games in that span, against Panama on September 5 and Canada on October 10, Davis has labelled those matches as must-wins.

Maximum six points

"It's important to get the maximum six points from those two home games. That will give a boost when we go on the road because we know that (the away games) are going to be tricky," Davis told STAR Sports.

Those first five away games include back-to-back fixtures against Costa Rica on September 8 and the United States on October 7. However, five of the last seven games will be at home including back-to-back games against the United States in November and Mexico on January 27. Davis said that although the lengthy time away will be tricky, it would benefit the team as it will force the players to not let their guard down during the campaign.

"People would like to replicate (our World Cup campaign) in 1998 when we were dominating at the Office (National Stadium). But you never know. This could be a blessing. Now they know that they have to put out not their A-game, but their (A+) game on the road."

National defender Damion Lowe said that winning their home games will put the Boyz in the best position possible to have similar success to the 1998 team that qualified for the Finals in France.

"Home advantage is very, very vital. For me, I think the key is to maximise points at home and if we can pick up a draw here or there and steal a win, we will be in good shape in qualifying for the World Cup," Lowe said. "For us the main focus is to get maximum points at home and we are on our way."