‘Hurts deeply’: Leon Bailey reflects on World Cup miss for Jamaica
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Jamaican winger Leon Bailey has issued an apology to Jamaica after the Reggae Boyz failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a post on his Instagram account two days after the team’s defeat to the DR Congo national football team, Bailey expressed disappointment that he “couldn’t get us over the line”.
“You deserve that moment of celebration, and I wanted nothing more than to give that to you,” he said.
The Reggae Boyz entered the Intercontinental Playoff as a last resort after failing to advance through the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group. They lost 1-0 to DR Congo on Tuesday in a match that went into extra time.
The 28-year-old Premier League footballer said playing in the World Cup was a long-held dream, and not qualifying “hurts deeply”.
“I give everything I have—not just for myself, but for every single Jamaican who believes in me. And the hardest part right now is knowing that, this time, it just wasn’t enough,” he said.
He added: “I feel that disappointment not only for myself, but for all of you. I know how much this meant, how much you were hoping, cheering, and standing behind me.”
Bailey, however, expressed gratitude to the nation for its continued support, which he said never goes unnoticed and pushes him every day.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me, believed in me, and stood by me through it all. It never goes unnoticed, and it means more than I can explain. One thing I know for certain is that I have always worn my country’s colours with pride, and I’ve done that throughout all these years. Representing Jamaica is the greatest honour, and that will never change for me,” he said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19. It will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and will feature 48 teams and 104 matches.
Jamaica last qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1998.
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