Mexico's Under-20 football team await its pick-up after their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. The Mexicans will play their Jamaica age-group counterparts in a friendly later at Ferdie Neita Park. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Jamaica's Under-20 Reggae Boyz will continue their preparation for the World Cup qualifying Under-20 Finals when they tackle Mexico in a friendly at 7 p.m. at Ferdie Neita Park, Portmore.

The 28-member Mexican delegation that arrived in the island yesterday include 21 players and eight officials.

"It is a friendly match and we are looking forward to it because we know that it will help with our preparation for the qualifiers," head coach, Juan Carlos Chavez, said in an interview with The Gleaner upon the team's arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.

"Our national team is required to play friendly matches and we are doing all the preparation we need to do for the qualifiers.

"We are here to work. Playing against Jamaica is the same competition we are going to find in the qualifiers. It's good be here away from Mexico and playing in the Caribbean," he said.

The Young Boyz went down 1-0 in their second game of their two-match friendly series against Costa Rica at Brancourt on Saturday.

In Saturday's match, Jamaica made five changes to its starting 11 that drew 0-0 with their Central Americans in the first game at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex last Thursday.

Head coach of the junior Reggae Boyz, Donovan Duckie, said the game will be challenging because of the quality team they will go up against.

"The level of competitiveness will be the highest one at this level. But we know with this sort of exposure we will be able to compete at a higher level against our opponents in the tournament," Duckie said.

He stated that it is important that the players recognise the importance of the games.

Very focused

"They need to be at their best and be very focused. Any lapse in concentration could be disastrous against quality teams like these," he said.

Winning the game he said is always important, but he would continue to rotate the squad to as they move closer to selecting the final 20.

Jamaica, who are expected to play at least another three warm-up matches, have been drawn in Group A of the CONCACAF final round play-offs alongside the United States, El Salvador and the winner of the Honduras-St Vincent qualifier.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will be held in Egypt in September and October.

Mexico, in the meantime, will play in Group B along with the hosts, Costa Rica and Canada.

Following today's game, both teams will then travel to Mexico for a return game on February 19. The Jamaica Under-20 squad will face a Mexico Under-20 All Stars before travelling to Fort Lauderdale for another friendly against Canada on February 27.