Government Allocates $1.35 Million for Jamaica Drone Soccer Squad Ahead of South Korea World Event

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has allocated $1.35 million to the Jamaica Drone Football Association (JDFA) to underwrite the national drone soccer squad's appearance at a global tournament in South Korea scheduled for July 11 through 18, 2026.

Portfolio Minister Olivia Grange said the state's funding marks a further advance in Jamaica's push to back new sporting fields and to open doors for young Jamaicans to build capability where athletics, technology and business overlap.

"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 issued 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.

Jamaica entered the record books in September 2025 as the first Caribbean country to take part in the FIDA World Cup in South Korea. The squad collected the Spirit of Drone Soccer Award and the Best Rising Star Award in the Class 40 division.

By May 2026, the team had captured the Pan Americas National Championship at the Palm Springs International Drone Festival, overcoming opposition from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Kazakhstan in the same class.

According to the ministry, those results have sharpened Jamaica's standing internationally in technology and innovation and strengthened its reputation as a front-runner in the region for tech-driven sport.

The ministry also pointed to the DRIFT Drones in School programme and the Harms Down, Drones Up community project as tools guiding youths toward technology, sport, learning, innovation and wider prospects — especially those less drawn to conventional athletic or classroom routes.

The initiatives now reach more than 40 schools and 20,000 students in Jamaica and across the wider Caribbean, including the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands.

Schools on the roster 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.

Jamaica Drone Soccer president and head coach Dervon McKellop praised the ministry's backing, calling it a major commitment to the squad's readiness and to the sport's expansion across the island.