Girlz to play friendlies against France, South Africa

KINGSTON (CMC):

In preparation for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, which kick off in 2025, Jamaica’s national women’s football team will play France and South Africa in two friendly internationals later this year.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) announced that the Reggae Girlz will come up against the number 10-ranked France at the Stade Auguste-Bonal in France on October 25.

It will be a rematch from the 2023 World Cup in Australia where the two teams played to a 0-0 draw, which earned Jamaica their first-ever point at a World Cup.

The 42nd-ranked Reggae Girlz will also face the 50th-ranked South Africans at home on November 29 and December 2.

It will be the first meeting between the two teams since facing each other in April 2019, in Durban, where they played to a 1-1 draw.

JFF president Michael Ricketts welcomed the games for the Reggae Girlz, saying it would serve as ideal preparation for the team.

“We want to give our Reggae Girlz the best opportunity to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and we feel these upcoming friendly internationals to end 2024 are beneficial to the coaching staff and players to help them prepare for the World Cup Qualifiers,” Ricketts said.

World Cup Qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup kick off in Concacaf in 2025.

The confederation will have four spots for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted in Brazil and two other teams from Concacaf will qualify for the Intercontinental playoffs.