<p>The semi-autonomous French overseas collectivity in the South Pacific has a population of 264,596, and are ranked #150 in the world soccer rankings. In contrast, Jamaica are ranked #70.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A win for either will mean they advance to the next stage of the qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the DR Congo awaiting the winner. We'll find out who they will play when New Caledonia and Jamaica play on Friday, March 27, with kickoff at 09:00 AEDT in Mexico. For those looking to wager on the tournament, our <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/how-to-bet-on-2026-fifa-world-cup">complete betting guide</a> covers everything you need to know.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Quick Picks</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Our pick: </strong>Jamaica to win</p><p><strong>Value bet: </strong>BTTS not to hit</p><p><strong>Long shot: </strong>Jamaica to win 2-0</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Betting Preview</h2><p>As noted, New Caledonia finished as third-round runners-up. They won Group A in the Second Round, winning two of their three games and drawing their other. In this stage, they managed to score seven goals and limited the goals conceded to just four.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the Third Round, they would face Tahiti and beat them 3-0 in the semi-finals before advancing to the final. They would face New Zealand, but would lose 3-0. This would then send them into the inter-confederation play-off against Jamaica.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Georges Gope-Fenepej and Joseph Athale both managed three goals each in qualifying, while four others managed a goal apiece.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For Jamaica, it was arguably a disappointing qualification campaign. With the USA, Canada, and Mexico not involved due to having an automatic berth as hosts, Jamaica would have felt they'd be one of the others to gain an automatic spot from Concacaf.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Placed in Group B, they finished second behind Curacao, with three wins from six games (2D, 1L). They scored 11 goals and conceded just three, but the surprise 2-0 defeat to Curacao in MW3 ultimately cost them an automatic spot. They would top the best second-placed teams chart with the 11 points amassed, allowing them to enter the inter-continental play-off and face New Caledonia.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Renaldo Cephas and Shamar Nicholson both had two goals each, while six others had scored once.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Betting Markets to Watch</h2><p>Jamaica are strong favourites to win this game, with the odds stacked heavily in their favour. You can explore the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/world-cup">World Cup betting odds</a> to see how the markets are shaping up.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The '<strong>Under 2.5 Goals' offers plenty of value</strong> for us worth exploring in this game. Play-off ties can be extremely tense and nerve-racking, especially as it's a winner-takes-all scenario. There is no coming back after a bad performance, meaning no one will be willing to make a mistake. If you're new to <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/what-is-a-multi-bet">understanding how multibets work</a>, combining selections like this can boost your potential returns.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>We think the <strong>BTTS not hitting will also have value</strong> worth exploring in this game. New Caledonia have struggled to score when playing away, having done so in less than a third of their recent games. With Jamaica boasting a strong attacking force, a <strong>2-0 win</strong> could be worth value as a long shot.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Our Prediction</h2><p>Check the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/world-cup/fifa-world-cup-qualifiers/new-caledonia-v-jamaica-10294345">New Caledonia vs Jamaica betting odds</a> at Sportsbet.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>We think the <strong>most likely outcome is a Jamaica win,</strong> as they are significantly stronger and have a better quality of player available. We think there's a lot of potential value worth exploring in the <strong>'Under 2.5 Goals'</strong>.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Keep Reading</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/world-cup/mens-world-cup/fifa-world-cup-2026-outrights-7009197">Who's tipped to lift the trophy in 2026?</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p></li><li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/fifa-world-cup-groups-ranked-easiest-hardest">Which World Cup groups offer the easiest path to the knockouts?</a></li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/socceroos-world-cup-group-analysis">How the Socceroos stack up against their group rivals</a></li></ul>