Current:Home > NewsJamaica's "Reggae Girls" overcome long odds to advance in Women's World Cup -Edge Finance Strategies
Jamaica's "Reggae Girls" overcome long odds to advance in Women's World Cup
View
Date:2025-04-13 15:32:13
Jamaica knocked Brazil out of the Women's World Cup on Wednesday, holding their rivals to a 0-0 draw in international soccer's biggest competition. The tie sees the Jamaican women advance to the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time ever, and it brought jubilant celebrations from Jamaicans at home and around the world.
It's already a remarkable success story for the Reggae Girlz — as the team is known — as the team has been disbanded by the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) twice over the last 15 years and had to fight tooth and nail for funding to keep playing.
In 2008, the JFF ceased funding the women's team, claiming it was impossible given its finances, despite continuing to fund the men's side.
In 2014, reggae icon and soccer lover Bob Marley's daughter Cedella Marley stepped in to help finance the team, producing a single to raise money for the squad and providing sponsorship through the family's Bob Marley Foundation.
Despite the boost, the team was again disbanded in 2016 by the national federation.
Marley called for change within the JFF and continued to fund the team through the family's foundation and, in 2019, the Reggae Girlz qualified for their first Women's World Cup. They failed to win a single game and left in the group stages of the tournament, however.
Even during the buildup to the 2023 Women's World Cup, the team continued to fight for financial backing from the Jamaican federation. The JFF said it was struggling to fund the women's team and called on the country's government to help out.
But help came once again from elsewhere. One of the player's mothers set up a crowdfunding page, called "Reggae Girlz Rise Up," to help cover their costs, and it brought in close to $50,000.
Just days before the 2023 Women's World Cup began on the other side of the globe in New Zealand and Australia, the Reggae Girls put out a statement voicing their "utmost disappointment" with the JFF over the organization's "subpar" support for their team.
The players called for change and laid out details of what they claim is rampant disorganization within the federation.
When the final whistle blew at the end of their Wednesday match in Melbourne, Jamaican midfielder Drew Spence could be seen shouting, "We told you! We told you!" into the crowd.
Coach Lorne Donaldson, speaking after the game, said the team was "doing this for the country, and the country should be proud."
- In:
- Brazil
- Jamaica
- Bob Marley
- World Cup
- Soccer
veryGood! (35864)
Related
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Zombie deer disease is a 'slow moving disaster'. Why scientists say humans should 'be prepared'.
- A US delegation to meet with Mexican government for talks on the surge of migrants at border
- Almcoin Trading Center: The Difference Between Proof of Work and Proof of Stake
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Fentanyl is finding its way into the hands of middle schoolers. Experts say Narcan in classrooms can help prevent deaths.
- As social media guardrails fade and AI deepfakes go mainstream, experts warn of impact on elections
- Migrant caravan in southern Mexico marks Christmas Day by trudging onward
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Almcoin Trading Center: The Difference Between Proof of Work and Proof of Stake
Ranking
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Taylor Swift's Game Day Nods to Travis Kelce Will Never Go Out of Style
- California man stuck in seaside crevasse for days is rescued in time for Christmas
- As social media guardrails fade and AI deepfakes go mainstream, experts warn of impact on elections
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Beyoncé's childhood home in Houston damaged after catching fire early Christmas morning
- Almcoin Trading Center: The Difference Between Proof of Work and Proof of Stake
- Free People's After-Holiday Sale Is Too Good To Be True With Deals Starting at Just $24
Recommendation
Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
Biden Administration Takes Historic Step to Protect Old-Growth Forest
Bowl game schedule today: Everything to know about college football bowl games on Dec. 26
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson out for season after injury to ACL, MCL
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
'We SHOULD do better': Wildlife officials sound off after Virginia bald eagle shot in wing
Buffalo Bills playoff clinching scenarios for NFL Week 17: It's simple. Win and get in.
Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde's Kids Steal the Show While Crashing His ESPN Interview