Wrexham striker Bailey Cadamarteri led Jamaica to a 1-0 victory over New Caledonia on Thursday, securing a spot in the World Cup interconfederational playoff final against DR Congo.
Cadamarteri scored the decisive goal in the 18th minute, clinching the win for the Reggae Boyz, who have made just one previous World Cup appearance—in France in 1998.
New Caledonia, representing Oceania, was aiming for their first-ever World Cup qualification. However, their hopes were dashed when Andre Blake made a crucial save against Wakua Waia in the 88th minute.
Jamaica, which finished second in the CONCACAF qualifiers, will face DR Congo next Tuesday at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara. Congo advanced to this playoff by defeating Nigeria in their African playoff.
The winner in Guadalajara will join Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan in Group K of the tournament.
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Jamaica’s win came on the heels of Bolivia‘s success in another international playoff.
Moises Paniagua and Miguel Terceros each scored during a seven-minute stretch in the second half, propelling Bolivia to a 2-1 victory over Suriname. Bolivia will next face Iraq on Tuesday.
“I want to emphasize the players’ character in never giving up; this is a team that always believes they can pull through,” said Bolivia’s coach Oscar Villegas.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was present at both the Monterrey and Guadalajara venues to observe the playoff matches.
Later this weekend, Infantino is set to visit the newly renovated Azteca Stadium for a friendly match between Mexico and Portugal.
This report incorporates information from the Associated Press.