Jamaica create a shortlist including Demarai Gray & Max Aarons to national team

Jamaica have drawn up a 10-man shortlist of players they are keen to recruit ahead of a 2026 World Cup push, including Premier League stars Demarai Gray and Rico Henry.

The Reggae Boyz appeared at the France 1998 tournament but have not qualified for the global showpiece since.

And according to the Sun, the Caribbean country want to boost their bid for the World Cup in the Americas with a host of English-based players.

That World Cup is hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, who all automatically qualify for the competition.

That leaves Jamaica in with a great shot of making it, with the CONCACAF qualifying region wide open, and the island nation reportedly investing in its facilities to give it the best shot of appearing at the 2026 edition.

Head coach Paul Hall is said to want Everton winger Gray, Brentford defender Henry, Norwich right back Max Aarons, Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Crystal Palace defender Nathan Ferguson - plus five others.

Also reportedly being targeted are Stoke midfielder Lewis Baker, Swansea defender Joel Latibeaudiere, Arsenal prospect Kido Taylor-Hart, Chelsea youth product Luke Badley-Morgan and Fulham starlet Xavier Benjamin.

West Ham star Michail Antonio, 32, had hoped to be called up by England but was persuaded to change his allegiances, making his debut last year and scoring three goals in six games since then.

Hall's former international team-mate Fitzroy Simpson is helping him with recruitment and opened up on the pair's motivations.

He said: 'Paul and I talk regularly. He is determined to put together a strong attempt to qualify for 2026. There are a lot of players out there who could help us and are interested.

'These guys could be playing in the World Cup in 2026 and Paul sees them as a massive part of that drive to dominate the CONCACAF. He wants the best talent on show and wants to grow with them.

'Paul is willing to hand these guys an opportunity which could see them become first-choice internationals playing in such stages as the Azteca Stadium... Of course England is the mother country to a lot of these players but they have vast pool of players to call upon.

'You can be an outstanding player but never get a look in with the senior England side. I obviously thought about maybe playing for England too but I made the decision to play for Jamaica and it was one of the best things I ever did.'