Leon Bailey Absent from Jamaica’s Copa America Squad Despite Inclusion

Leon Bailey, the talented winger, has made headlines as he was named in Jamaica’s Copa America squad despite announcing a break from international duty in March.

Craig Butler, Bailey’s father, reiterated on social media that Bailey’s stance remains unchanged concerning his participation with the Jamaican national team. Butler accused the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) of selecting Bailey without a confirmed commitment from the player to participate in the tournament.

Jamaica has already played two matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers this month, securing victories against the Dominican Republic (1-0 on June 6) and Dominica (3-2 on June 9). Notably, Bailey was absent from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad for both fixtures. Since making his debut in 2019, Bailey has earned 30 caps for Jamaica and scored five goals.

The 26-year-old faced disciplinary action last November when he and forward Trivante Stewart broke curfew during an international break. This led to Bailey’s suspension for the March Nations League matches. During that period, Bailey expressed his frustration on the “Let’s Be Honest” podcast, criticizing the JFF as “very unprofessional” and citing issues such as having to arrange his own travel and inadequate equipment. The JFF dismissed these claims as “inaccurate and contradictory.”

Jamaica will start their Copa America campaign against Mexico on Saturday, June 22, followed by matches against Ecuador on June 26 and Venezuela on June 30, 2024.