Drone soccer is rapidly emerging as a worldwide sensation, and Jamaica is right at the helm of this innovative and dynamic team sport. 

Jamaica is gearing up for a strong team showing at the 2025 Federation of International Drone Soccer Association (FIDA) Drone Soccer World Cup in South Korea in September 2025, the very birthplace of drone soccer. 

According to Dervon McKellop, president of Jamaica Drone Soccer, the objective is to unite drone soccer enthusiasts worldwide and establish the sport as a prominent fixture on the global stage.  The goal, according to him, is to bring together enthusiasts from around the globe and solidify the sport’s status on the international stage. 

“Drone Soccer is a cutting-edge team sport where players fly drones enclosed in protective cages and compete to score goals by navigating them through a vertical hoop on the opponent’s side of the field. It originated in South Korea, designed as an educational platform to engage youth in drone-related technology. Far beyond mere entertainment, drone soccer was designed to promote STEAM education and inspire future engineers, pilots, and innovators through an exciting and hands-on format,” McKellop said. 

With drone soccer expanding across Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe in recent years, this inaugural official World Cup by FIDA serves as a foundation to support its global growth with structured systems and institutions.  It represents the launchpad for creating technical standards, formalising game rules, and fostering a framework for international cooperation.

“Drone Soccer is a holistic embodiment of STEAM education. Students learn to assemble drones (engineering), understand flight principles and sensors (science and technology), apply coding and control systems (mathematics),  and express creativity through team branding and strategic planning (arts). This interdisciplinary approach offers experiential learning while developing critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills,” McKellop said. 

The event will showcase the potential of drone soccer as a global drone leisure sport and a youth-focused blend of education, technology, and culture. It will also open doors for international cooperation with associations and related organisations.

“While deeply grounded in technology, drone soccer stands out as a true sport, demanding teamwork, strategic thinking, and disciplined training, much like traditional athletic pursuits. Players commit to regular practice, honing tactics and competing with the goal of victory, all while building leadership skills and collaboration. It uniquely appeals to students who might not be interested in conventional sports, providing a new and inclusive pathway to physical and cognitive engagement,” McKellop said.

Students typically join through their schools, youth centres, or public educational programmes. Educators undergo training to lead Drone Soccer programmes, and students form teams to build, program, and fly drones. They participate in regional tournaments, STEAM camps, or exchange events. The programme is accessible even for beginners, thanks to a well-structured and progressive curriculum.

 “The ‘Drone in Schools’ programme brings drone technology into the classroom, transforming it into an interactive learning tool. By integrating drones into lessons, educators can bridge theoretical concepts across various subjects with practical, real-world applications, enriching the overall learning experience,” McKellop said. 

Students gain hands-on experience in drone assembly, flight mechanics, programming, and control systems. The programme strengthens students’ creativity, critical thinking, and digital literacy, while inspiring interest in aerospace, robotics, and engineering fields. It is an excellent platform for both career exploration and 21st-century skill development,” he added. 

McKellop said they are currently finalising the dates for the Jamaica leg of the drone soccer STEAM camps. They are looking to host the first leg in Montego Bay and the second in Kingston. This will be the first hosting of the Drone Soccer STEAM Camp in Jamaica, which is normally held during August; however, due to the World Cup in September, they are looking to host the camp and national trials in early June or July.

“These immersive camps allow students to learn drone assembly, piloting, develop teamwork, and participate in friendly matches. DRIFT Enterprise UAV Services, the company that manages Jamaica Drone Soccer, also provides online and in-person training programmes for persons/organisations who are interested in becoming qualified Drone Soccer officials, such as head referees, assistant referees responsible for penalties and scoring and coaches,” McKellop said.  

The Drone Soccer World Cup is the premier global competition for the sport, featuring national and club teams from FIDA member countries. Jamaica is an official FIDA member country and is eligible to host national qualifiers to select both national and club teams for the World Cup. 

In addition to drone soccer as the main event, two demonstration categories, cracing and superpilot, will be introduced, offering a broader showcase of drone sports.