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The Jamaican Women's National Soccer Team Makes Historic Debut At Women's World Cup

In an inspiring journey that includes Bob Marley's daughter, the Reggae Girlz became the first Caribbean nation to ever play in the tournament.
The Jamaican Women's National Soccer Team Makes Historic Debut At Women's World Cup
Cedella Marley (C bottom) poses with Jamaica Women’s football team ‘Reggae Girlz’ after the friendly football match Jamaica vs Panama at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on May 19, 2019. – In Jamaica, the spirit of Bob Marley is inescapable: it permeates the Caribbean island nation, even its football pitches — a sign of the late reggae legend’s passion for the sport. After Marley’s death, his children picked up the torch — and the country’s women’s team, who have qualified for their first-ever World Cup this summer in France, owe a lot to the musician’s daughter Cedella. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)
By Paula Rogo ·

Jamaica’s women’s national soccer team, the Reggae Girlz, made their historic debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France on Sunday.

Although they lost 3-0 to Brazil in their debut, their mere presence at the tournament makes them the first Caribbean nation to qualify for the tournament.

The journey to the tournament hasn’t been easy due to lack of funding from the Jamaica Football Federation, which chose instead to focus on the men’s team. This left the Reggae Girlz disbanded for years, until 2014, when Bob Marley’s daughter Cedella Marley helped create financial support for the team by becoming an ambassador.

The Jamaican Women’s National Soccer Team Makes Historic Debut At Women’s World Cup
Cedella Marley poses with Jamaica’s Women football team ‘Reggae Girlz’ (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)

“I didn’t even know we had a women’s team in Jamaica,” Marley told the Telegraph. “And I love football. I mean, before I knew there was a Reggae Girlz team I supported the Reggae Boyz. And I still do with all of my heart. But I just didn’t know.

She has had to pour much of her own money into the team, but the effort to get the girls to the World Cup has been a group effort. Even the Reggae Girlz head coach, Hue Menzies, initially took the role as a volunteer.

The Jamaican Women’s National Soccer Team Makes Historic Debut At Women’s World Cup
Jamaica’s players pose for a team group photo before the friendly match between Jamaica and Panama at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on May 19, 2019. – They don’t have tons of money, sponsors or flashy practice facilities but they didn’t let that stop them: Jamaica’s ‘Reggae Girlz’, the women’s national football team that did not even exist a few years ago, are heading to France to battle for the World Cup. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)

And although the team doesn’t have the same resources or opportunities as the bigger teams in the tournament, Marley says you can’t beat their heart!

“It’s a miracle that we’re here at all,” she says. “And if we start to win, the party back home… mind you, you drop a rice grain in Jamaica and tell us it’s a party and we’re going to party! But I believe we’re capable of anything.”

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