Mexico vs Jamaica: how and where to watch - times, TV, online
'El Tri' face the 'Reggae Boyz' from Jamaica in Mexico City as both sides look to start strongly in the eight team group.
Home fans will be absent on Thursday night at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City as 'El Tri' begins participation in the octagonal of the CONCACAF qualifier for the Qatar-2022 World Cup against a Jamaica that arrives decimated but optimistic at the Mexican capital.
Both covid health motives and recent homophobic chants and subsequent FIFA ban have been instrumental in seeing the 81,070 seats of the Azteca stadium lying empty tonight for Mexico's opener.
Jamaica team hit by UK travel rules
The covid pandemic has also played a major role in many key Jamaican players missing for the game with: Liam Moore (Reading), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) and Wesley Harding (Rotherdam United); midfielders Ravel Morrison (Derby County), Kevin Stewart (Blackpool) and Booby Reid (Fulham) and forwards Leon Bailey (Aston Villa), Jamal Lowe (Bournemouth), Kemar Roofe (Rangers, Scotland) and Michail Antonio (West Ham) all missing due to UK travel restrictions.
"I'm very disappointed that I don't have the full roster of players," said Jamaica coach Theodore Whitmore, "but the show must go on."
"I think we can get something out of the game," Whitmore confided. "We don't want to find any excuse, we know we don't have players, but we want to leave that behind, we want to go out and do our best at all times."
El Tri absentees
From the list of 28 players that Mexico originally presented for the round of September games, Johan Vásquez, Genoa defender has been ruled out through injury.
UK travel rules also led to striker Raúl Jiménez not being released by initially Wolverhampton Wanderers but the Mexican team hopes to have him available for next two games with Mexico set to face visit Costa Rica and Panama.
Mexico-Jamaica: possible starting XI's
México: Guillermo Ochoa, Luis Rodríguez, Néstor Araujo, César Montes, Jorge Sánchez, Edson Álvarez, Andrés Guardado, Orbelín Pineda, Jesús Corona, Alexis Vega, Rogelio Funes Mori. DT: Gerardo Martino.
Jamaica: Andre Blake, Alvas Powell, Damion Lowe, Adrian Mariappa, Kemar Lawrence, Devon Williams, Junior Flemmings, Blair Turgott, Lamar Walker, Cory Burke, Shamar Nicholson. DT: Theodore Whitmore.
What time does Mexico-Jamaica kick-off?
The 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifying game between Mexico and Jamaica will be staged at the Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) and will kick-off at 09:00 pm (local time).
US ET: 10:00 pm
US PT: 07:00 pm
UK: 03:00 am (Friday 3/09)
For everywhere else in the world, you can check here to see what time the match gets underway.
Where can I watch Mexico-Jamaica?
If the Mexico-Jamaica qualifier is available in your country, you can check here to see what channels or platforms will be showing the game.
United States: TUDN.com, Paramount+, Univision NOW, TUDN App, Univision, TUDN USA
Is the Mexico-Jamaica game available online?
The World Cup qualifier clash is available in most nations through the rights holders' online platform, if they have one. The best option is to check who is showing the game in your country and if they have an online service or iOS/Android app to watch it on.
El Salvador-USA live on AS English
You can also follow our live text commentary here on AS English. We will be building up to the match an hour or so from kick-off before giving you a minute-by-minute account from San Salvador as the action unfolds.