The Jamaica Football Federation has named a 24-man Reggae Boyz squad for the 2026 Unity Cup in London, setting up a potential rematch with the Super Eagles after Jamaica’s heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat in last year’s final.
Jamaica are coming to London with a point to prove. The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) confirmed their 24-man squad for the 2026 Unity Cup on Thursday, blending established internationals with fresh faces as the Reggae Boyz prepare to face India in their semi-final on May 27, according to FootballInNigeria.com.ng. Nigeria take on Zimbabwe the day before in the tournament’s opening match, with the two semi-final winners squaring off in the final on May 30.
Announcing the selection, the JFF struck an ambitious tone on social media, describing the group as a blend of Premier League quality, Championship experience, and homegrown hunger, with every player pulling in one direction. It is the language of a team that has unfinished business, and Jamaica certainly do. They have now lost two consecutive Unity Cup finals to Nigeria and will be eager to settle the score if both sides make it through their respective semi-finals.
Key Names in Jamaica’s Unity Cup Squad
Kaheim Dixon, the 21-year-old Charlton Athletic forward from Trench Town, Kingston, is among the standout inclusions. Dixon made his Jamaica debut in March 2024 during the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against the United States and has been a regular in Reggae Boyz setups since. He was recalled from his loan at Crawley Town in February 2026, and his inclusion in the Unity Cup squad signals the JFF’s confidence in his development as an attacking option at the international level.
Caelan Cadamarteri, a teenager signed by Manchester City from Sheffield United last year for £1.5 million, is among three new faces in the squad. The 17-year-old’s inclusion is a bold call but reflects the generational shift Jamaica are navigating following their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Also new to the squad is 22-year-old wing-back Courtney Clarke of League Two side Walsall, along with Nicholas Symmonds, who was drafted third overall by FC Dallas in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. Super Eagles fans wanting to back Nigeria to retain the trophy can check the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG welcome bonus before the semi-final on May 26.
Familiar names in the squad include midfielders Isaac Hayden, Kasey Palmer, Dexter Lembikisa and Greg Leigh, alongside Jamal Lowe and Amari’i Bell. The group also features six locally based players: Tafari Chambers, Raheem Edwards, Christopher Ainsworth, Nickolai Fuller, Dwight Merrick and Nickoy Ellis. It is a deliberate mix, with the JFF keen to give competitive international minutes to domestic-based talent while keeping the squad competitive enough to challenge for the trophy.
Nigeria Hold the Recent Edge Over Jamaica
The Super Eagles have dominated the head-to-head at this tournament. Nigeria beat Jamaica on penalties in the 2025 Unity Cup final after the match ended 2-2 at the Brentford Community Stadium, extending their record as the only team to have lifted the trophy. Jamaica, who have now appeared in two consecutive finals, are looking for a first Unity Cup title.
For Nigeria, Eric Chelle has named a mixed squad for the tournament that includes experienced heads like captain Wilfred Ndidi, Francis Uzoho, Moses Simon, Akor Adams and Terem Moffi, alongside several fresh faces and home-based players. Chelle has been transparent about his plan to use the Unity Cup as a testing ground before the stronger squad, including Victor Osimhen, steps in for the June friendlies against Poland and Portugal. Super Eagles fans keen on wagering through the tournament can use the Bet9ja’s current promo code for an enhanced opening offer.
The Tournament Format and What Happens Next
The 2026 Unity Cup takes place at The Valley in Charlton, south-east London, from May 26 to May 30. Nigeria face Zimbabwe in the opening semi-final on May 26, with Jamaica versus India following on May 27. The two losing semi-finalists meet in a third-place playoff before the final on May 30. The tournament serves as an important warm-up for Jamaica ahead of their Concacaf Gold Cup campaign, while Nigeria will use it to begin building the squad dynamic ahead of the AFCON 2027 qualifying rounds. New Bet9ja users following the action can claim the Bet9ja promo code today before the first semi-final kicks off.
📌 Did You Know?
- The Unity Cup was previously played at the Brentford Community Stadium before moving to The Valley in Charlton for the 2026 edition, both of which are in Greater London and have strong diaspora community ties.
- Kaheim Dixon, one of Jamaica’s key forwards for the Unity Cup, was born in Trench Town, Kingston, the same neighbourhood that produced reggae legend Bob Marley. He plays his club football for Charlton Athletic in the EFL Championship.
- Jamaica missed out on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite reaching the inter-confederation playoffs, losing to a CONCACAF opponent after beating New Caledonia in their semi-final at the Akron Stadium in Mexico in March 2026.
- Caelan Cadamarteri, one of three new faces in Jamaica’s Unity Cup squad, was signed by Manchester City from Sheffield United for £1.5 million, making him one of the most expensive teenage academy acquisitions involving a Jamaican player in recent memory.
- India (ranked 136th by FIFA) enter the tournament as the lowest-ranked side, making Jamaica (71st) their toughest assignment on paper, while Nigeria (26th) and Zimbabwe (130th) complete the four-team field.
- Nigeria are the only side to have won the Unity Cup, with Jamaica having finished as runners-up in both the 2025 and previous editions without ever lifting the trophy.
- The Unity Cup doubles as a diplomatic platform, with the British High Commission, the JFF and India’s High Commission in Jamaica jointly promoting the 2026 edition as a celebration of diaspora communities across the United Kingdom.
