FIFA Consultant and Women’s Football Division Advisor Jose Andres Portabella believes the long-term growth of women’s football in Jamaica hinges on meaningful support for the Reggae Girlz in their bid to reach a third successive FIFA Women’s World Cup. In less than four months, the national senior women’s team will take on Costa Rica in the quarter-finals of the Concacaf W Championship in Texas, USA, with victory securing a place in next year’s World Cup in Brazil. It would continue a historic run for the team, which stunned the world at the 2019 tournament in France and the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Reggae Girlz' Captain Khadija Shaw (left) celebrates after scoring her third goal against against Antigua and Barbuda during their Group B encounter at the National Stadium on April 10, 2026. At right is teammate Shania Hayles. (Photo: Naphtali Junior) Despite their impressive performances over the past decade, the Reggae Girlz have struggled to attract consistent, lucrative sponsorship and sustained fan support, although more than 6,500 supporters turned out at the National Stadium for their 2-0 win over Guyana in April.
Portabella told the Jamaica Observer that stronger backing for the Reggae Girlz would not only boost the team’s success but also help drive the long-term development of the sport locally. “I would love to see the whole country rally behind the Reggae Girlz. They have a beautiful opportunity to go three times in a row to a World Cup - that is special, it’s not every country that can say that.
So I would love to see the Jamaican people come together and get behind the Reggae Girlz in a way that no one has ever seen before,” he said. “If we see that, I think the Girlz will respond to the country in an amazing way, and it will inspire a completely new generation to really see the pathway to play football, to enjoy football and to one day excel in football at the global stage.” Portabella was a key figure in helping the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to develop and launch its Women’s Strategic Plan, which outlines several key objectives to be achieved in the sport by 2031. The world governing body is prepared to provide more than $41 million in funding to support JFF programmes focused on national teams, league and club development, as well as governance and leadership.
The Reggae Girlz starting 11 take a team photo ahead of …
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