Sport Minister Phillip Watts has met with US, Canadian and Mexican representatives to discuss promotion of the 2026 World Cup and other matters.
According to the Ministry, issues relating to the tournament included fan engagement initiatives, promotional activities, and opportunities for enhanced sport diplomacy.
The discussions also targeted initiatives to strengthen the development of wrestling and boxing at the national level.
The Ministry’s statement says, “The engagement underscored a shared commitment to leveraging sport as a catalyst for cultural exchange and youth empowerment. These discussions will continue among all parties in the lead-up to the World Cup, as Trinidad and Tobago seek to leverage international partnerships to deepen sport participation, build capacity, and expand its sport tourism footprint.”
The meeting concluded with an exchange of cultural tokens among the representatives, symbolizing mutual respect, shared values, and a commitment to ongoing collaboration in sport and youth development.
The United States delegation comprised Mr. Scott Hansen, Deputy Chief of Mission; Mr. Leo Page-Blau, Assistant Public Affairs Officer; Mrs. Vanessa Thomas-Myers, Sports Diplomacy Coordinator; and Mr. Nathan Johnson, Visual Diplomacy Coordinator.
Representing Canada were His Excellency Michael Callan, High Commissioner, and Mr. Stuart Shaw, Political Counsellor.
From Mexico, His Excellency Victor Hugo Morales Melendez, Ambassador, and Mr. Flavio Gonzalez-Hernandez, Head of Trade and International Cooperation, were in attendance.
Also present from the Ministry and its agencies were Mr. David Nakhid, Parliamentary Secretary; Ms. Penelope Bradshaw-Niles, Permanent Secretary; Mr. Kester Lendor, Chairman, SporTT; Mr. Arnald Ram, Chief Executive Officer, SporTT; Mr. Kairon Serrette, Partnerships and Alliances, SporTT; and Mr. Colin Borde, Sport Advisor to the Minister.
