Carib Scope

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  • Frazsiers Whip, Arnett Gardens hold cards in JWPL semi-final return-leg contests

    Frazsiers Whip, Arnett Gardens hold cards in JWPL semi-final return-leg contests

    The stage is set for a decisive doubleheader in the Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) this Saturday, as two semi-final second-leg clashes kick off at the UWI-JFF/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence. Defending league champions Frazsiers Whip FC and Arnett Gardens will take the pitch with vastly different first-leg advantages to defend, as both sides chase a spot in this year’s championship final.

    For Frazsiers Whip, the path to a fourth consecutive final looks all but clear after a dominant 5-0 demolition of Real Mona FC in last weekend’s opening semi-final fixture. Led by head coach Courtney Dowdie, the squad has enjoyed an electric unbeaten run across 11 matches so far this season, and is heavily favored to extend that streak to 12 when they step onto the pitch this weekend.

    The champions’ attacking firepower has been unmatched across the competition this term, with the side netting close to 70 goals in total. The league’s top goalscorer Christine Salmon has formed a devastating attacking trio with Shanel Spence and Nevillegail Able, and the combination has accounted for 54 of the team’s goals this season alone. Spence already made her mark in the first leg, bagging a brace to secure the lopsided five-goal advantage, and the side is widely expected to push for another high-scoring outing on Saturday.

    Defensively, Frazsiers Whip have been just as impressive: the side has conceded only four goals across the entire season, a stat that makes a comeback from Real Mona look extremely unlikely. Still, the underdog side has already proven it has the resilience to fight against the odds.

    Real Mona only earned their spot in the JWPL semi-finals in the final week of the regular season, a remarkable turnaround after picking up just one point from their opening two matches following their return to the top flight. The team pulled off a stunning upset to knock out last year’s finalists Cavalier FC to secure their place in the final four, writing one of the league’s biggest underdog stories of the season.

    Now, however, Real Mona faces an unprecedented mountain to climb against the nation’s top women’s side. To overturn a five-goal deficit and advance to the final, the young squad will need a catastrophic collapse from Frazsiers Whip paired with a career-defining collective performance that far outstrips any they have pulled off so far this campaign.

    The afternoon’s second semi-final clash shapes up to be a far tighter, more unpredictable contest, as Arnett Gardens holds just a narrow 3-2 first-leg lead over Los Perfectos FC. Both sides are hungry for redemption this year, having been knocked out of the 2023 competition at the semi-final stage: Arnett fell to eventual finalists Cavalier, while Los Perfectos were eliminated at the hands of Frazsiers Whip.

    Much of the attention ahead of the second leg will be on two star strikers who both stole the show in last week’s opening fixture. Arnett Gardens’ Shikira Douglas and Los Perfectos’ veteran playmaker Venicia Reid both notched braces in the first leg, and each will carry the bulk of their side’s goalscoring hopes on Saturday. While Arnett boasts a deep roster of attacking talent beyond Douglas, including standouts Tuanashae Hamilton, Sade Berry and Suen Gregory, Los Perfectos relies heavily on Reid’s clinical finishing: the veteran has netted 22 of the club’s 35 goals this season alone.

    The action kicks off at 3:00 pm with Real Mona facing Frazsiers Whip, followed by the 5:30 pm kickoff between Los Perfectos and Arnett Gardens.

  • ON THE HUNT

    ON THE HUNT

    Fresh off a dominant opening victory at the Wanda Diamond League’s first 2025 stop in Shanghai/Keqiao, two-time World Athletics Championships 200m gold medalist Shericka Jackson is set to target consecutive wins at the tour’s next stop, held at Xiamen’s Egret Stadium in China. The race, which kicks off Saturday morning Jamaica time, will see Jackson chase more than just another win — she aims to avenge a surprise defeat to American sprinter Anavia Battle when she opened her 2024 Diamond League campaign in the same city a year prior.

    Jackson, who has navigated a string of nagging injuries over the past two seasons, turned heads last week with an impressive opening performance, clocking 22.07 seconds in the 200m just 48 hours after touching down in China. With a full week of acclimatization and training under her belt ahead of the Xiamen meet, track analysts and fans widely expect the Jamaican star to shave time off her already strong opening result and deliver an even faster performance this weekend.

    Jackson will face off against nearly the exact same field of competitors that lined up against her in Shanghai/Keqiao. Battle, who finished third in the opener last week, will look to defend her 2024 Xiamen victory against Jackson. Joining the pair on the starting line will be Shaunae Miller-Uibo of The Bahamas, who claimed second place in the opening meet, alongside American sprinters Jenna Prandini and Sha’Carri Richardson.

    Jackson is far from the only Jamaican star set to compete in Xiamen: a total of nine Jamaican athletes, most of whom already raced in the tour opener, will return to the track this weekend. The full Jamaican contingent includes sprint hurdlers Ackera Nugent, Megan Simmonds, and Danielle Williams in the women’s 100m hurdles; Orlando Bennett in the men’s 110m hurdles; high jumper Lamara Distin; long jumpers Tajay Gayle and Wayne Pinnock; and shot put national record holder Rajindra Campbell. Notably, Campbell and Pinnock are competing just weeks after World Athletics rejected their applications to switch sporting allegiance to Turkey, clearing them to remain competing for Jamaica for the 2025 season.

    The women’s 100m hurdles boasts one of the deepest and most competitive fields on the entire Xiamen schedule, featuring gold medalists from each of the last four global championships. American Masai Russell, the reigning Olympic champion, took gold in the opening race last week, where both Danielle Williams and another competitor failed to finish the event. This weekend, Williams will look to put her opening-meet DNF behind her and claim a better result in Xiamen.

    Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds, an Olympic medallist, was the highest-placed Jamaican hurdler in Shanghai/Keqiao, finishing fourth with Nugent close behind in sixth. The two Jamaicans will face stiff competition from a stacked field that includes World Championships gold medalist Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland, World Indoor champion Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas — who set a new national record in the event last week — and reigning world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria.

    Orlando Bennett, a medalist at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, will also aim to improve on his opening result. Bennett clocked a 2025 season’s best 13.20 seconds to take fourth place in Shanghai/Keqiao, and will this weekend go head-to-head with world leader Rachid Muratake of Japan, and Americans Jamal Britt and Cordell Tinch, who finished first and second respectively in the opening meet.

    Lamara Distin will make her 2025 outdoor season debut in the women’s high jump, where she will compete against Australia’s Eleanor Patterson, American Charity Hufnagel, and Ukraine’s Yulia Levchenko. In the men’s long jump, Jamaicans Tajay Gayle and Wayne Pinnock tied with an identical 7.93m jump in the opener, and both will target personal improvements against a field that includes rising Italian star Mattia Furlani, Australia’s Liam Adcock, home favorite Mingkun Zhang of China, and combined World Championships and Olympic gold medalist Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece.

  • Man Utd’s Fernandes named Premier League Player of the Season

    Man Utd’s Fernandes named Premier League Player of the Season

    In a landmark announcement made Saturday night in English football, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has capped off a standout domestic campaign by claiming the prestigious Premier League Player of the Season award.

    The 31-year-old midfield maestro delivered a career-best performance across the 2024-25 league season, matching a long-standing top-flight record that places him alongside two of the competition’s all-time greats: former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry and current Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne. All three players now share the mark for the most assists registered in a single 38-game Premier League campaign, with Fernandes notching 20 goal-creating passes this term.

    Beyond his playmaking contributions, Fernandes found the back of the net eight times in league play, playing an instrumental role in guiding Manchester United to a third-place finish in the table. The result locked in the club’s automatic qualification for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, a much-coveted milestone for the side led by interim manager Michael Carrick this season.

    The honor carries extra historical weight for Fernandes and Manchester United: he is the first Red Devils player to win the league’s top individual award in nearly 14 years, since Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic took home the prize at the end of the 2010-11 campaign.

    Fernandes beat out a stacked field of top contenders to claim the honor, including Arsenal’s defensive star David Raya, center-back Gabriel Magalhaes, and midfield enforcer Declan Rice; Manchester City’s record-breaking striker Erling Haaland; Bristol City loanee Antoine Semenyo; Brentford forward Igor Thiago; and Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White. This award adds to Fernandes’ growing collection of 2024-25 honors, following his win of the Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year award earlier this season.

    In the night’s other major award, 21-year-old Nico O’Reilly of treble-chasing Manchester City took home the Premier League Young Player of the Season honor after a breakout campaign that cemented his place as one of English football’s brightest young talents.

    O’Reilly stepped into a regular starting role for City this season, featuring primarily at left-back while also filling in effectively in midfield when called upon. Across all competitions, he notched five goals and three assists, including a iconic two-goal performance that led City to a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the EFL League Cup final in March. He also started in City’s recent FA Cup final win against Chelsea, proving his ability to deliver on the sport’s biggest stages.

    The young defender beat out a strong group of fellow rising stars to claim the prize, including City teammate Rayan Cherki, West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall, Brentford’s Michael Kayode, Manchester United’s breakout star Kobbie Mainoo, and Bournemouth duo Alex Scott and Eli Junior Kroupi.

  • Rajindra Campbell breaks national record, Jackson wins 200m at Diamond League

    Rajindra Campbell breaks national record, Jackson wins 200m at Diamond League

    The second stop of the 2025 Diamond League track and field circuit, held Saturday in Xiamen, China, delivered a night of record-breaking performances highlighted by standout efforts from Jamaican athletes and a historic run from American hurdler Masai Russell.

    One of the biggest stories of the competition came from shot putter Rajindra Campbell, the Olympic bronze medalist who made global headlines recently when World Athletics denied his and three other Jamaican athletes’ requests to switch national allegiance to Turkey. Undeterred by the off-track controversy, Campbell launched a 22.34-meter throw that shaved three centimeters off his own 2024 Jamaican national record, set earlier that year in Croatia. The mark pushed Campbell to second place in the global shot put rankings, outperforming a pair of top American competitors: Jordan Geist, who took silver with a 21.52-meter throw, and Olympic star Ryan Crouser, who notched a season’s best 21.41 meters to round out the top three.

    In the women’s 200-meter sprint, Jamaican sprinter Shericka Jackson continued her fine form this season, clocking a new season’s best time that improved on the mark she set just one week prior. Jackson surged ahead of the pack coming off the final turn, pulling away from the field with a smooth, controlled stride to cross the line well clear of her competitors. Her time also broke the existing Xiamen meet record of 22.41 seconds set by American sprinter Anavia Battle in 2024. In a repeat of the previous weekend’s podium, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas took second place with a 22.04-second run, while Battle earned third with 22.29 seconds.

    Long jump delivered its own share of standout results, led by Greek Olympic and world champion Miltiadis Tentoglou, who claimed gold with a season’s best 8.46-meter jump. The mark matched the 2025 global leading distance and broke the previous meet record of 8.18 meters set by China’s Zhang Mingkun last year. Jamaican Olympic and world medalist Tajay Gayle notched a massive personal improvement from his 7.93-meter result at the previous week’s Shanghai-Keqiao meet, leaping to a season’s best 8.32 meters to take second place. Fellow Jamaican Wayne Pinnock finished sixth with a 7.93-meter jump, matching his own season’s best.

    In the men’s 110-meter hurdles final, American Jamal Britt took gold with a 13.07-second run that equaled his personal best. Japan’s Rachid Muratake claimed silver with 13.13 seconds, while Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett rounded out the podium with 13.20 seconds, matching his 2025 season’s best.

    Jamaica’s Lamara Distin took third place in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.94 meters behind a pair of Ukrainian competitors: gold medalist Yulia Levchenko, who cleared 1.99 meters, and silver medalist Iryna Gerashchenko, who hit 1.97 meters.

    The most historic performance of the day came in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, where American Masai Russell delivered one of the fastest times in the history of the sport. Russell crossed the line in 12.14 seconds, beating her own existing American record of 12.17 seconds. The run also shattered both the Xiamen meet record of 12.45 seconds set by Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in 2024 and the overall Diamond League record for the event. Nigerian world record holder Tobi Amusan took silver with a season’s best 12.28 seconds, while Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas broke her own national record for the second consecutive week, clocking 12.37 seconds to take third. Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent finished sixth in the race with 12.64 seconds, and fellow Jamaican Danielle Williams placed seventh with 12.90 seconds, capping a day of strong results for Caribbean track and field in Xiamen.

  • South Castries, VF South move on in Blackheart U20

    South Castries, VF South move on in Blackheart U20

    Two more teams have locked in their places in the last eight of the Blackheart/Saint Lucia Football Association Under-20 Boys’ Knockout Tournament, following decisive Round of 16 fixtures hosted Wednesday night at the Philip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort. South Castries and Vieux Fort South now join previously qualified Gros Islet and Dennery in the tournament’s quarterfinal lineup.

    The first match of the night delivered a hotly contested Castries derby, where South Castries dominated their local rivals Central Castries to claim a clean 2-0 win. South Castries got off to a fast start, with Tyler St Rose opening the scoring just 12 minutes into the game. The side held onto their 1-0 lead through halftime, before Armani Lesmond extended their advantage in the 49th minute to seal the victory.

    In the second Round of 16 clash, hosts Vieux Fort South came out swinging against Mon Repos, who had earned their spot in this round with a narrow 3-2 win over Desruisseaux just one week prior. Vieux Fort South stunned their opponents with an explosive early start, netting two goals in the opening 15 minutes to jump to a 2-0 lead. The first goal came from Jeremie Toussaint, followed by an own goal from Mon Repos defender Seth Reneau. 17 minutes into the second half, Tristan Alphonse put Vieux Fort South up 3-0, seemingly putting the game out of reach.

    But Mon Repos mounted a late, brave fightback that prevented a lopsided scoreline. In the final minute of regulation time, Andreas Charlery scored two quick goals to cut the deficit to one, ending the match at 3-2 in favor of Vieux Fort South. Despite the late rally, Mon Repos was eliminated from the knockout competition, while Vieux Fort South advanced to the quarterfinals.

    The tournament’s next round fixtures will kick off in Soufriere on May 29. Two quarterfinal matches are scheduled for that date: Choiseul will face off against Mabouya Valley, and Canaries will take on Eastern Zone champions Roseau Valley, who advanced to this stage after winning their qualifying match. On May 31, top-seeded La Clery will make their quarterfinal debut against Micoud, and Southern Zone champions Soufriere will play Anse La Raye.

  • Four Antiguan Cricketers to Join UK Clubs Through High Commission’s Cricket ExchangeProgramme

    Four Antiguan Cricketers to Join UK Clubs Through High Commission’s Cricket ExchangeProgramme

    LONDON, May 22, 2026 – Four promising young cricket players from Antigua and Barbuda have touched down in the United Kingdom, marking the launch of the seventh iteration of the groundbreaking Antigua Exchange programme, a collaborative youth sports initiative. The programme was co-developed through a partnership between Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Keith and Chloe Williams of Nottingham’s Keyworth Cricket Club, and the Honourable Daryll Matthew.

    Each of the four selected players will join a different UK club for their four-month placement. Michael Greaves and Hilroy Andrew will represent Grantham Cricket Club, while Mekaili Tonge has been assigned to Harrow St Mary’s Cricket Club. Rounding out the 2026 cohort, Jedidiah Martin will compete with Belvoir Cricket Club over the course of the exchange.

    More than just a playing opportunity, the programme is designed to catalyze the professional growth of emerging Antiguan and Barbudan cricket talent. During their four-month stay, participants will compete in high-level competitive club cricket, earn valuable international playing exposure, refine their technical skills, and immerse themselves in the professional norms and cultural context of the sport in the UK. The track record of the initiative speaks to its impact: a number of past participants have gone on to secure paid professional contracts with UK clubs, returning to compete in subsequent seasons as contracted overseas players.

    The 2026 cohort was handpicked by a panel of seasoned cricket experts: former professional players and veteran selectors Winston Benjamin, Hugh Smith, and Essan Warner. Their years of industry experience and ongoing commitment to nurturing local talent have been instrumental in identifying and elevating the next generation of cricket standouts from Antigua and Barbuda.

    The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission has also highlighted the critical role of philanthropic support in making the initiative possible. Principal donors Ophir and Ann Chapman-Daniel have provided generous funding that removes barriers and opens this life-changing opportunity up to young athletes each year.

    Before departing for the UK, all four players took part in a comprehensive pre-departure orientation organized by Sports Commissioner Dr Colin Greene and Aldo McCoy. The training session covered practical guidance on adapting to daily life and professional cricket in the UK, with targeted modules on preparation, on and off-field discipline, personal conduct, cross-cultural awareness, and the importance of upholding national pride while representing Antigua and Barbuda on an international stage.

    In remarks on the programme’s broader purpose, Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill emphasized that the initiative extends far beyond the sport itself. “This is about opening doors for young Antiguans and Barbudans, exposing them to international standards, and helping them understand the responsibility that comes with representing their country overseas,” she explained. “We are proud to support their journey and grateful to all partners who continue to invest in the development of our young people.”

    The exchange programme aligns with the longstanding commitment of Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deepening people-to-people connections between the two nations. By leveraging sport as a platform, the initiative advances youth development, cross-cultural exchange, increased global visibility for Antigua and Barbuda, and strengthened international collaborative partnerships.

    Officials from the Antigua and Barbuda High Commission have extended formal well wishes to Greaves, Andrew, Tonge, and Martin as they embark on this key milestone in both their cricketing careers and their service as representatives of their home country.

  • Matthew Miller Shines in England Under Bede’s Cricket Scholarship

    Matthew Miller Shines in England Under Bede’s Cricket Scholarship

    LONDON, 22 May 2026 – A new chapter of sporting opportunity between Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom is already delivering early success, after 19-year-old Matthew Miller, the first ever beneficiary of the Antigua and Barbuda-Bede’s School Cricket Scholarship, has turned in a series of stunning performances in his opening 2026 season in English cricket.

    Miller, a promising young all-rounder from the twin-island Caribbean nation, has dominated school-level competitions through the first half of the season, posting remarkable statistics across both batting and bowling departments. Through 11 trips to the crease, he has accumulated 463 runs at an elite average of 66.14, anchored by an unbeaten century of 102 and three consistent half-centuries. His aggressive yet controlled strokeplay has produced 37 boundaries and 27 maximum sixes, and he has yet to be dismissed without scoring a run in any innings this season. With the ball, he has continued to impress, claiming 15 wickets from 50.4 overs at an average of 18.67, with a best bowling return of 3 wickets for just 6 runs and an economy rate holding steady at 5.53.

    On 21 May, Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, accompanied by Third Secretary Caleb Gardiner, attended one of Miller’s recent matches to watch his performance firsthand. The pair got an up-close view of the discipline, raw talent and competitive drive that have already made Miller stand out at his new school.

    Speaking after the match, High Commissioner Hill emphasized that Miller’s rapid progress is a source of national pride for Antigua and Barbuda, and validates the vision behind the scholarship initiative. “Matthew’s success shows exactly why investing in pathways for young people through sport, education and cross-border partnership matters so much,” she said. “We are thrilled to see him seize this opportunity and represent our country with such distinction. I have no doubt he has all the ability to one day earn a place in the West Indies senior international lineup, and I look forward to watching that journey unfold.”

    The scholarship was developed through a collaborative partnership between the government of Antigua and Barbuda and Bede’s School, one of the United Kingdom’s leading independent boarding schools with campuses in Eastbourne and the Sussex countryside. The initiative grew out of the Antigua and Barbuda High Commission’s broader commitment to deepening ties between the two countries in the areas of education, sport, youth development and people-to-people cultural exchange. The link between the High Commission and Bede’s was first established by Calaum Jahraldo Martin, a former professional Antiguan footballer and Bede’s alumnus who connected Hill with school leadership.

    Since the initial connection, Bede’s has already completed one developmental cricket tour of Antigua in 2023, and a second tour is already scheduled for February 2027. That visit will mark the launch of the next phase of the scholarship program, with a second young talented Antiguan cricketer set to earn a partial scholarship to study and train at the school. Several key Antiguan sporting figures have already supported the growing partnership, including former Minister of Sport Daryll Matthew and legendary West Indian cricketer and Antiguan national hero Sir Vivian Richards, both of whom have visited Bede’s to strengthen the connection. Bede’s already has a proud history of nurturing Caribbean cricketing talent, with current West Indies ODI and T20 captain Shai Hope among its notable alumni.

    Miller’s breakthrough early success in England offers a powerful illustration of what young emerging athletes can achieve when raw talent is paired with structured access to opportunity and an international platform to grow. For the bilateral partnership between Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom, his performance has already cemented the scholarship as a model for future youth-focused sports exchange programs.

  • CWI Congratulates Trinidad & Tobago Red Force on 2026 West Indies Championship Triumph

    CWI Congratulates Trinidad & Tobago Red Force on 2026 West Indies Championship Triumph

    ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A new chapter of regional cricket history was written at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium this week, as Trinidad & Tobago Red Force claimed the 2026 West Indies Championship title with a clinical victory over defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles, capping off a dominant tournament run that has ended two decades of waiting for the side.

    In the wake of the historic four-day final win, Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr. The Hon. Kishore Shallow has issued a formal statement of congratulations to the Red Force, praising the team for their exceptional performance across the entire tournament.

    The Red Force’s composed, determined showing in the high-stakes final secured their first regional four-day championship crown since 2006, bringing a fitting close to a stellar season for the side. Facing off against a Guyana Harpy Eagles team that entered the match as defending title holders, Trinidad & Tobago rose to the occasion to deliver a memorable victory that has resonated across Caribbean cricket circles.

    In his public message, Dr. Shallow highlighted the core qualities that drove the Red Force to success: unwavering discipline, consistent form through every round of the tournament, and remarkable resilience when facing testing match situations. He also singled out for praise the strong leadership and relentless commitment demonstrated by the entire squad and coaching staff throughout their championship campaign.

    “On behalf of Cricket West Indies, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on capturing the 2026 West Indies Championship title,” Dr. Shallow said in his statement. “This achievement is a testament to the team’s hard work, preparation, and consistency throughout the season.”

    He added, “The players and management demonstrated tremendous character and professionalism, particularly in a high-pressure final against a very strong Guyana Harpy Eagles side. Their success reflects the rich cricketing tradition of Trinidad and Tobago and the continued strength of first-class cricket within the region.”

    Beyond celebrating the Red Force’s win, the CWI president also emphasized the broader value of the annual West Indies Championship, noting that regional first-class competition remains a foundational pillar for nurturing emerging talent that will go on to represent the West Indies at the international level.

    “The West Indies Championship remains a vital pillar in our cricket development pathway and continues to provide an important platform for players to sharpen their skills and compete at the highest regional level,” Dr. Shallow explained. “The quality of cricket displayed throughout the tournament is encouraging for the future of West Indies cricket.”

    Dr. Shallow also extended recognition to the Guyana Harpy Eagles for their own outstanding 2026 season, which saw them advance to the final and defend their title through a tightly contested tournament. He additionally offered sincere thanks to every participating team, match officials, regional territorial cricket boards, tournament sponsors, and fan bases that contributed to the success of this year’s edition of the championship.

    Organized cricket body CWI also joined in the expression of gratitude, acknowledging the ongoing passion and support from fans and stakeholders across the Caribbean – a foundation that continues to drive the growth and long-term success of regional first-class cricket across the region.

    This report is compiled from official CWI press materials.

  • U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 : Our Grenadiers know their opponents

    U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 : Our Grenadiers know their opponents

    The stage is now set for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar, after football’s global governing body FIFA completed the final tournament draw in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Scheduled to run from November 19 through December 13 this year, the youth football showcase will bring 48 of the world’s top under-17 national teams to compete across world-class venues in Doha’s Aspire Zone complex in Al Rayyan, with 8 match pitches ready for action and the tournament final set to be hosted at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium.

    For Haiti’s young national side, nicknamed the Grenadiers, this tournament marks their fourth appearance at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, and they have learned they will compete in Group D alongside three formidable opponents: European champions France, Asian side Saudi Arabia, and South American powerhouse Uruguay. The expanded 48-team format sees all participating nations split into 12 groups of four teams for the opening round. After the group stage concludes, the top two finishers from each group will advance to the knockout round of 32, joined by the eight highest-ranked third-place teams from the group stage. From the round of 32 onward, the tournament will follow a single-elimination knockout bracket to decide the world champion.

    Haiti qualified for the 2026 finals after an impressive run through regional qualifying matches, where they picked up decisive wins over Antigua & Barbuda (4-0), Grenada (5-1) and Guatemala (2-1) to secure their spot in the final draw. At the helm of the squad is head coach Kowsky Sainvil, who previously led Haiti’s U-20 national team in 2016 and has served as a coach with Canada’s FC Laval based in Quebec since 2024. Speaking after the draw ceremony, Sainvil shared that he was pleased with the outcome of the group draw, and remains confident in his young side’s prospects. The coach emphasized that with structured, high-intensity preparation in the months leading up to the tournament, his team is capable of pulling off unexpected results, earning a spot in the knockout round, and making a deep run in the competition.

    In the weeks following Haiti’s successful qualification, the country’s prime minister offered official congratulations to the U-17 squad for their achievement, marking another milestone for Haitian youth football as the nation prepares to compete on the global stage this November.

  • 12 foreign teams arrive for Masters Football contest

    12 foreign teams arrive for Masters Football contest

    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.”