Fruitful first Drone Soccer World Cup for Jamaica

JAMAICA HAS soared into the history books as the first Caribbean nation to compete in the Drone Soccer World Cup, held in Jeonju, South Korea, over the weekend.

The Jamaica National Drone Soccer Team and club team ‘Dr Birdz’ took to the skies in the fiercely contested Class 20 and Class 40 categories, respectively, battling against international heavyweights from Spain, China, India, and Chinese Taipei.

The team, led by manager, coach, and player Dervon Mckellop, demonstrated resilience, innovation, and skill in this emerging aerial sport that combines robotics, aviation, and competitive teamwork.

At the closing awards ceremony, Jamaica walked away with two titles — Spirit of Drone Soccer Award, recognising the team’s sportsmanship, passion, and dedication, and the Best Rising Star Award (Class 40), highlighting Jamaica’s outstanding potential and future promise in global competition.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, Mckellop expressed immense pride:

“The sky is the limit. This not only cements our names in history, but also highlights our ability to compete against the best in the world in an emerging sport.”

The achievement marks a major milestone for Jamaica’s foray into drone sports and technology, showcasing the island’s talent and determination on the world stage. With eyes now set on growing the sport locally, Jamaica’s historic success in Jeonju is expected to inspire a new generation of local innovators and athletes.