Mason Greenwood has been dealt a second major blow ahead of the upcoming World Cup amid rumours of a Jamaica call-up.
Mason Greenwood World Cup Call-Up A ‘Farce’
Jamaica national team midfielder Isaac Hayden has branded Mason Greenwood’s potential call-up a ‘farce’, with the Caribbean nation on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup.
The Reggae Boyz have made it to the inter-confederation play-offs, where they are just two games away from stamping their tickets to next summer’s tournament in North America.
First up, they face Oceania’s New Caledonia in the semi-final. Should they prevail, they will then go head-to-head with Africa’s DR Congo in the final for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
It presents a strong opportunity to seal qualification for the first time since 1998.
Ahead of the play-off tournament, due to be held in Mexico at the end of March, Manchester United academy graduate Greenwood is once again being linked with a maiden call-up.
The forward left United after charges against him, including alleged rape and assault, were dropped in 2023, and since joining Marseille after a spell with Getafe, he has shone in Ligue 1.
He currently leads as the division’s top goalscorer with 10 goals in 12 games this term.
In total, he has registered 11 goals and four assists in 17 matches for Marseille in 2025/26.
Despite his excellent form though, Hayden, formerly of Newcastle and currently at QPR, has revealed that he is against the 24-year-old being called up ahead of the World Cup play-offs.
“The quality of the player, his numbers, what he is producing, is of the highest level, but it comes down to principle and integrity,” the 30-year-old told The Athletic.
“If players can just rock up because of a World Cup, it would make the whole thing a farce. That would say a lot about the player, and the organisation for allowing that to happen.
“My recommendation to the JFF was that any new player who wants to come in beyond the recent September window can do so for 2026 (after the World Cup play-offs and possible World Cup campaign), when it is a whole new cycle.”
Greenwood has already obtained a Jamaican passport, according to reports, but he is yet to finalise a request to the Football Association to represent the island nation instead of England.
This is due to the fact that he was not previously ready to commit to the Reggae Boyz, which is said to have left recently departed manager Steve McClaren incredibly frustrated.
It is unknown whether his stance has changed with World Cup qualification on the cards.
Greenwood ‘Not In England’s Thoughts’
One thing that is certain is that Greenwood won’t be playing for England at the World Cup.
The striker has been capped by the Three Lions at several age grades and picked up his first and only cap for the senior team in a 1-0 win against Iceland in the Nations League in 2021.
He was never capped again by then-manager Gareth Southgate, having been withdrawn from the aforementioned squad after breaking COVID-19 regulations.
However, his recent form prompted members of the media to ask Thomas Tuchel about a potential recall.
Tuchel dismissed the idea of Greenwood making an England return in September.
“I have not spoken to him until now. I have not spoken to him or his camp,” he said.
“My understanding was that he tries to play for Jamaica so we didn’t give it another thought. He was not in the mix at the moment and he is not in our thoughts for our team.”
It is reported that England and the FA are aware of the backlash that reintegrating Greenwood would spark, therefore he isn’t being considered for a call-up despite his clear talent.
As for the JFF, they do not hold the same concerns, as he has been cleared by the courts. This opens a door, likely the only door, for Greenwood to have a lengthy international career.
