The highly anticipated 2026 Saint Lucia International Masters Football Invitational officially launched its five-day run on Wednesday night, with opening round fixtures hosted simultaneously at two premier venues: the Micoud Playing Field and the iconic Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. Of the 26 total squads competing across two age divisions, 10 teams took to the pitch in the tournament’s opening slate of matches, delivering an action-packed opening round that saw 11 goals across five contests, setting an energetic tone for the remainder of the event.
Competing in the Over 50 age Group A at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Caricom Masters secured a narrow opening victory over Gros Islet Legends, with Ansgar Herman netting the decisive match-winning goal. In a second Over 40 Group D opener held at the same venue, Marchand claimed a 2-1 come-from-behind win against Lancers FC. Klen Jules put Lancers FC on the board first early in the fixture, before Carn Laure equalized for Marchand with a well-placed header. Lincoln Philip, representing the east Castries-based side, then scored the go-ahead goal that held up as the game-winner to secure Marchand’s opening three points.
Across fixtures at the Micoud Playing Field, the first matchday delivered two draws and a tight one-goal victory. In Over 50 Group B play, Vieux Fort South Masters edged past Labowi Connexions 1-0, with Ernie Nanton scoring the only goal of the contest to claim all three points. Over in Over 40 Group B, Vieux Fort South and Dennery’s All Blacks ended their match tied 1-1: Calixte Biscette put the All Blacks ahead in the contest, before Brad Camille equalized for VFS to split the points. The final opening fixture between Valley Legends and Micoud United FC (Over 40 Group A) also ended in a 2-2 draw. Valley Legends struck first through Alvin Emmanuel, before Valentine Peter and Brendon Desir put Micoud United in front. Sampson Robinson’s late goal rescued a point for Valley Legends to lock in the draw.
Organized by Veteran Sports, the tournament has grown steadily in scale and prestige over its iterations, with Alvin Malaykhan, CEO of Veteran Sports, noting to local outlet St Lucia Times that he is encouraged by the event’s steady expansion. The invitational has cemented its place as a core fixture on Saint Lucia’s sports tourism calendar, and has emerged as a must-participate event for masters football squads across the Caribbean region.
“I think we have the best masters football tournament in the Caribbean. I’m proud to say that. It’s at a high level,” Malaykhan shared in an interview. “And then it’s important to us, the development of masters football regionally and internationally. So, getting foreign teams to participate in these tournaments is very important to us. We have over 12 foreign teams coming in, over 300 participants. So the impact on the economy is magnificent.”
Running under the official theme “Legends…United by Passion,” the 2026 tournament will conclude on Whit Monday, May 25. In addition to local Saint Lucian squads, the 26 competing teams across the Over 40 and Over 50 age divisions include visiting squads from Barbados, Canada, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States.
Malaykhan emphasized that organizers are committed to continuing to elevate the tournament’s quality in coming years, noting that the event’s unique appeal combines high-level competitive football with the distinctive warm, vibrant culture of the island. “This tournament can only get better,” he added. “What’s important is the level of football and the enjoyment and the atmosphere of just being in Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia is a safe, wonderful place to experience good football, and we bring that Caribbean flair and atmosphere to the football. So that’s why a lot of people come out here to just enjoy what we bring to that.”