KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has given $1.35 million to the Jamaica Drone Football Association (JDFA) to support the national drone soccer team’s participation in an international competition in South Korea from July 11 to 18, 2026.

Portfolio Minister Olivia Grange said the Government’s contribution represents another significant step in Jamaica’s commitment to supporting emerging sporting disciplines while creating opportunities for young people to develop skills at the intersection of sport, technology and entrepreneurship.

“What is happening in Jamaica through drone soccer shows how sport continues to evolve and how technology can create new opportunities for our young people,” Grange said in a statement on Friday.

“Players must master drone operation, strategy, teamwork, problem-solving, and technical skills, making it a unique platform for youth development and innovation. The fast-growing sport combines the excitement of traditional athletics with the principles of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM),” she continued.

In September 2025, Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation to compete at the FIDA World Cup in South Korea, where the team received the Spirit of Drone Soccer Award and the Best Rising Star Award in the Class 40 category.

In May 2026, the team won the Pan Americas National Championship at the Palm Springs International Drone Festival after defeating teams from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Kazakhstan in the same category.

The ministry said these accomplishments have elevated Jamaica’s profile on the global stage of technology and innovation and positioned the country as a regional leader in tech-based sport.

In addition, the ministry said the “DRIFT Drones in School” programme and “Harms Down, Drones Up” community initiative are helping to steer young people toward technology, sport, education, innovation, and opportunity, particularly those who may not be engaged in traditional sports or academic pathways.

More than 40 schools and 20,000 students across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, including the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, are now involved in the programmes. Participating institutions include Eltham High School, Eltham Park Primary, Norman Gardens Primary, Winston Jones High School, Cross Keys High School, Catherine Hall Primary, Cornwall College, Herbert Morrison Technical High School, Wolmer’s Boys’ School, Knockalva Technical High School, St. George’s College, Irwin Primary School and Irwin High School.

President and coach of Jamaica Drone Soccer, Dervon McKellop, welcomed the ministry’s support, describing it as a significant investment in the team’s preparation and Jamaica’s continued growth in the sport.