Jamaica players concerned over potential Mason Greenwood call-up for World Cup play-offs

Jamaica duo Isaac Hayden and Amari’i Bell have expressed concern over the possibility of Mason Greenwood joining the national team ahead of the World Cup, warning that such a move would undermine the work of the current squad.

Greenwood, capped once by England, made himself eligible to represent Jamaica earlier this year and secured his Jamaican passport in August.

His switch has given him the option to represent the country of his grandparents, though he has so far declined to take part in competitive qualifiers, including fixtures against Trinidad and Tobago or Bermuda in September.

Despite this, Jamaica Football Federation president Michael Ricketts told The Athletic he remains hopeful the Marseille forward could feature before the World Cup after being “excited to get his documentation sorted out.”

The idea, however, has not been welcomed by some within the current group, who are one step from qualification with intercontinental play-offs against New Caledonia and possibly DR Congo scheduled for March.

Hayden, now at QPR, believes allowing Greenwood or any player to join late would be unfair on those who have carried the campaign to this stage.

“I’ve only played for Jamaica for a year, and there was some resistance to me when I started, but I have played 12 games and everyone can see my passion and the way I play the game,” he said.

“I give everything on the pitch, and I wanted to be there to help Jamaica progress to the World Cup.

“[The JFF] are obsessed with names and trying to recruit more players. They want to have the best team on the pitch, but I said it to the JFF: ‘If a player is not willing to commit for the last round of qualifying, unless they’re injured, I do not see why they should be joining the group in March or at the end of the season if we qualify’. There is no way that should be allowed to happen.”

Greenwood, who is rebuilding his career in France after Manchester United suspended him in 2022 and criminal charges were later dropped, has been one of Ligue 1’s standout performers this season with 10 goals in 12 matches. Hayden acknowledged the forward’s outstanding form but insisted the principle matters more.

“The quality of the player, his numbers, what he is producing, is of the highest level,” he said. “But it comes down to principle and integrity. If players can just rock up because of a World Cup, it would make the whole thing a farce. That would say a lot about the player, and the organisation for allowing that to happen.”

Charlton defender Bell echoed that view, warning that Greenwood – or any late arrival, including Everton winger Dwight McNeil – would cause friction within the camp.

“Many of us for years have put our blood, sweat and tears into playing for the nation, with a lot of things happening in the background,” he said.

“We’ve had to deal with all that. It wouldn’t seem fair to people who have been through that whole process and will never get another chance to play at a World Cup. It’s a bit controversial.”

Bell added that any decision would need to be discussed internally to avoid unsettling the group.

“Definitely, especially when it’s a World Cup,” he said. “You want good vibes and good energy around the squad. You wouldn’t want any distance between any players.”

England manager Thomas Tuchel commented in September that he had not spoken to Greenwood and confirmed that the striker is not currently in his plans.