After all, it's not as if Cuban soccer players haven't defected in the past, and it's not as if there wasn't an alternative to putting Cuba in Tampa. Since 2002, five players have taken advantage of the "wet foot, dry foot" policy that grants U.S. residency to Cubans who reach our shores. Those players had to defect from a different zone, however, after games played in Seattle, Los Angeles and Houston.

CONCACAF decided to make it easier for the Cubans this time around by scheduling three games at Raymond James Stadium, just a four-hour drive from Miami. Rather than players having to book a flight to join fellow exiles in South Florida, all that was needed this time was a driver and a minivan.

(Sun Sentinel)