KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA) is pressing ahead with efforts to host the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Jamaica’s Kofi Cockburn (centre) completes a lay-up over Puerto Rico’s Jordan Cintron during the first-round FIBA Americas World Cup qualifier in San Juan on November 28, 2025.The national senior men’s basketball team, The JamRockers, continue their quest to secure World Cup qualification for the first time when they take on Bahamas on February 26 and Canada on March 1 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Group B action in Americas Qualifiers.
According to the Jamaica Observer, the JABA have not yet secured the full $44 million required to host the Qualifiers, but are in advanced talks to have the funding in place ahead of the two fixtures.
Jamaica was forced to forego hosting duties in November in their opening game against Puerto Rico following an unsuccessful inspection two months prior by world governing body FIBA.
The two potential venues, the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston and the Montego Bay Convention in St James, did not meet mandatory standards, including the absence of an internationally approved scoreboard and upgraded basketball hoops.
It meant that Jamaica had to play their first two games in San Juan but ended up winning both games against the Puerto Ricans, 92-90 and 97-92 to move joint top of the group.
