Hurricane Melissa Forces Caribbean Cup and School Sports Schedule Overhauls
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The formidable path of Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, has significantly disrupted the sporting landscape across the Caribbean, forcing major schedule changes for the 2025 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup playoffs and leading to the suspension of vital school competitions. The hurricane, which made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, with devastating winds and torrential rain, has caused widespread destruction and prompted urgent reconfigurations of sporting events to ensure the safety of participants.
Melissa’s Wrath: A Category 5 Storm’s Impact
Hurricane Melissa was one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record, reaching Category 5 strength and delivering a catastrophic blow to Jamaica. With sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) at landfall, it became the strongest hurricane ever recorded to strike the island, surpassing Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. The storm’s fury left a trail of widespread destruction across Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and other Caribbean nations. In Jamaica alone, the hurricane caused an estimated $8.8 billion in physical damage, equivalent to 41% of the country’s 2024 gross domestic product, making it the costliest storm ever to hit the island.
The devastation included the destruction or damage of over 156,000 dwellings, widespread power and communication outages, severe damage to infrastructure such as roads and water systems, and significant agricultural losses. Tragically, the hurricane resulted in numerous fatalities across the region, with reports indicating at least 96 deaths attributed to Melissa, including many in Jamaica and Haiti. The sheer volume of debris left behind, estimated at over 4.8 million tonnes, further hampered recovery efforts and access to affected areas.
Caribbean Cup Playoff Fixtures Rescheduled
In response to the imminent threat and subsequent impact of Hurricane Melissa, CONCACAF, the governing body for football in the region, announced significant adjustments to the 2025 Caribbean Cup playoff schedule. The decision was made in close consultation with local authorities and involved clubs to prioritize the safety of all parties.
The highly anticipated second leg of the semifinal series between Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA and Trinidad & Tobago’s Defence Force FC, originally slated for October 30, was postponed. The match was eventually rescheduled and held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Kingston’s National Stadium. This crucial fixture saw Mount Pleasant FA, holding a commanding 5-1 advantage from the first leg, looking to secure their place in the final.
Additionally, the entire two-legged semifinal series between Dominican Republic clubs O&M FC and Cibao FC was also rescheduled. Their matches, initially set for late October, were moved to October 30 and November 6, 2025. These postponements underscored the pervasive impact of the hurricane on regional sports news and operations.
Concacaf also collaborated with Mount Pleasant FA for relief efforts around the rescheduled semifinal, establishing an essential-item collection center at the National Stadium and reducing ticket prices for the match, with all gate proceeds donated to a national recovery fund managed by Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).
School Sports Halted and Resumed
The destructive force of Hurricane Melissa also brought a halt to school-level sports competitions across Jamaica. The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) announced the immediate suspension of all scheduled games, including the popular Manning Cup and DaCosta Cup football competitions, as the storm approached and made landfall. Matches in the Round of 16 were postponed indefinitely, affecting junior football, boys’ basketball, and netball competitions as well.
Following extensive deliberations and consultations with participating schools, sponsors, and stakeholders, ISSA confirmed a plan for the resumption of these vital youth sports. The Manning Cup and DaCosta Cup competitions eventually restarted their Round of 16 matches on November 28 and 29, 2025, respectively. ISSA emphasized that the return of school sports would be a crucial component of the healing and recovery process for student-athletes affected by the hurricane, incorporating relief initiatives into their events. However, junior football competitions were delayed until January 2026, and the Rural Area schoolgirls’ netball competition faced significant uncertainty regarding its continuation due to the widespread displacement of student-athletes and altered school schedules.
The hurricane’s devastating impact served as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the Caribbean region to extreme weather events, highlighting the resilience of its sporting communities as they navigate recovery and adapt to a changing climate.