Big FIFA World Cup bucks for Jamaicans in Florida

Jamaican businesses and individuals in Florida have already started raking in their share of the big bucks to be earned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even though the country’s team failed to make it to the highly anticipated matches which officially kick off this Thursday.

According to Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s consul general to the south-east United States, the economic impact for his countrymen is anticipated to be enormous.

(from left) Jamaica’s Consul General to the Southern United States, Oliver Mair has a chat with former United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Nick Perry during a friendly football match between an under-20 team from Miami United and the Under-20 Reggae Boyz. 

“For example, the Curacao team will be at Florida Atlantic University. They will be training there. A lot of training camps will be positioned here in Broward County. A lot of people from around the world will be assembling so it is an opportunity for us to continue to showcase our culture even though Jamaica didn’t qualify. A lot of Jamaicans have already started selling items connected to the World Cup,” Mair told the
Jamaica Observer.

He is based in Miami and Florida is among the areas for which he has responsibility.

Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Boyz during the playing of the National Anthem on Sunday before the start of their friendly game against Miami United at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill Florida. The young Reaggae Boyz lost during a penalty shootout..

“The more persons come into the space there is an opportunity for persons to enjoy different Jamaican brands like the Grace Kennedy brand. We have Juici Patties here and they have done very well. Most of the branches have reported strong sales. Patty is a great snack or meal to have while watching football matches. Red Stripe Beer is here and several Jamaican brands. I can’t mention all of them but there will be several and it will be an opportunity for us to showcase our products to the world,” he added.

In addition to Jamaican cuisine, there will also be revelry.

The Miami United Under-20 team that beat Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Boyz in Lauderhill, Florida on Sunday..

“Persons will be flying up for some of the parties. A number of parties will take place in the communities that persons can participate in even if they don’t go to the matches. I know a lot of the tickets are very pricey. I was with a Jamaican who told me that he bought a ticket for one of the opening matches and it was like US$1,900 that he paid.

“When you go closer to the finals, you are looking at US$15,000 for a seat way up in the stands. There are events that will be taking place outside of the matches that will allow for greater participation. Jamaica will be front and centre, participating, supporting and being a part of the activities,” he said.

Clarence Reynolds, a Jamaican living in Florida, poses outside the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, on Sunday before the start of a friendly game between the Under-20 Reggae Boyz and a Miami United Under-20 team..

Broward County won’t be hosting any matches during the World Cup as the games scheduled for Florida will be concentrated in Miami. However, cities in Broward County, including Lauderhill, are making sure their citizens get a share of the pie.

“Broward County has more Jamaicans than any county in the United States. You are really sitting in little Jamaica. When you talk about cities like Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Miramar, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines, you are talking about the cities of many Jamaicans.

Michael Mitchell (right) was busy frying fish for sale, Sunday night at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. He is the owner of Gasick Hospitality Services..

“It means a lot to us that we are going to be a part of the World Cup which is considered to be the greatest show on earth. We are happy. Definitely we have strong hotel bookings here in Broward County. I know some of our Jamaican artistes will have some kind of participation at different stages, so we are happy to host the World Cup,” said Mair.

“Lots of watch parties will be here and we wish all the Caribbean people all the very best. A lot of people here are supporting Haiti in the World Cup and so we also wish them all the best,” the consul general added.

Last weekend, the City of Lauderhill and the Caribbean Americas Soccer Association, in collaboration with Broward County had its World Cup launch with a series of friendly matches. On Saturday at the Lauderhill Sports Complex in Lauderhill, the under-20 Reggae Boyz team blanked a Haiti Under-20 team, nine goals to zero.

Members of the Sunballerz Netball Club participating in a fund-raising activity outside the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill in Florida on Sunday as part of a FIFA World Cup launch..

On Sunday, the Jamaica Under-20 team played an Under-20 team from Miami United at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill. Jamaica lost in a penalty shootout.

The weekend matches created a good opportunity for Jamaicans to earn.

Oliver Mair (left), Jamaica’s consul general in the southern United States, which includes Florida, has a chat with former United States Ambassador to Jamaica Nick Perry on Sunday at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, during a friendly football match between Jamaica’s Under-20 Reggae Boyz and an Under-20 Miami United team..

Among them, on Sunday, was Michael Mitchell, a former captain of the Jamaica College Manning Cup team. He shared that he will not be shying away from taking advantage of the economic opportunities during the World Cup.

“We are here pushing our catering brand, Gasick Hospitality Services. We host cookouts three times per year — April, August and December — in the Lauderhill community. We supply people with good authentic Jamaican cuisine. The feedback has been extremely good during this launch event for the World Cup. We are basically sold out right now. We had Jerk chicken, festival and escovitch fish.

Nikisha Tyndall, a representative of the Sunballerz Netball Club in Florida, United States..

“With the World Cup being in Florida it is really a good look for the community because a lot of small businesses are here within the communities. A lot of tourists will come in so there will be a lot of opportunities for persons to make more revenue than the usual. So it is really important,” Mitchell said.

Sports teams mostly made up of Jamaicans also benefited during the World Cup launch over the weekend. Representatives of these teams told the Observer that they expect it to get even better once the matches begin.

Annette Payne, Vice president of Caricom Sports and Netball Club in Florida, United States..

Nikisha Tyndall, an Antiguan, is the only non-Jamaican in the Sunballerz Netball Club. On Sunday, the club engaged in a fund-raiser at the football event which was hosted by Broward County. They sold hamburgers, hotdogs, peppered shrimp, natural drinks and French fries.

“We have been together about two years now, going strong. During the FIFA World Cup, hopefully, we can build something bigger,” Tyndall told the Observer.

Michael Mitchell, owner of Gasick Hospitality Services in Florida, United States..

Jamaican Annette Payne, who is the president of Caricom Sports and Netball Club in Florida, was also at the event on Sunday in full fund-raising mode.

She shared that the World Cup creates an almost perfect opportunity for the netballers to raise the funds needed to attend an invitational tournament in Canada in July. She said the city of Lauderhill has really been supportive in terms of getting Jamaican vendors involved in activities surrounding the World Cup, enabling them to generate funds.